Gifts of the Nile: Faience from Ancient Egypt [Hardcover]

Deborah E. Klimburg-Salter (Author), Florence Friedman (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1998

Created from common materials, but possessing the majesty of gold and semi-precious gems, the ceramic now known as faience was used by the ancient Egyptians for a variety of luxury objects. Dolls were fashioned from it, as were baby feeders docorated to magically protect mother and child. Faience could be shaped into mummy masks, amulets, chalices, bowls, inkwells, jewelry, tiles and inlays for furniture. Its great popularity could have been due to one particular characteristic: radiance and brilliance, to the Egyptians a perfect metaphor for life, death and rebirth. This work analyzes the significance of faience, and presents illustrations of nearly 200 pieces drawn from public and private collections in Europe and America. It shows how faience was used and produced, as well as its symbolic values and meanings.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Friedman (curator of ancient art, Museum of Art, Rhode Island Sch. of Design) provides a catalog that expands the Rhode Island School of Design's new traveling exhibit, affording an intimate look at a critical area of Egyptian art. There is little gold to catch the eye and no colossal statues to marvel at in the exhibit, but many of the faience pieces selected are important and most are exquisite. While spectators in exhibit halls must jostle to view each item, the catalog's photographs permit a detailed look, and essays by outstanding scholars in the field provide insight into creation and use. The photographs are exceptionally clear, critical in a book so filled with detail. This is a definitive work in what had been a barren field. Highly recommended for large public and academic libraries.?Mary Morgan Smith, Northland P.L., PA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Florence Friedman is Curator of Ancient Art, Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson (May 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0500237549
• ISBN-13: 978-0500237540
• Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 9.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,858,848 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book of examples ,of Egyptian Paste [ pottery ], July 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Gifts of the Nile: Faience from Ancient Egypt (Hardcover)

A well illustrated book , numerous examples of what is known in pottery as " Egyptian Paste ". Ornaments , tiles ,cups, figurines and the ever present ,beads. More than enough colour photographs to satisfy the thirst . The 3 different processes of manufacturing Egyptian Paste objects are explained technically. Plus ,the many variations in the paste through the centuries. My only reason for not giving another star , not enough goblets .

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful - if you can find a copy., June 28, 2002

By 

L. D. Bores "grumposaurus" (Scottsdale, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Gifts of the Nile: Faience from Ancient Egypt (Hardcover)

I waited for some time to get my hands on this work. If you're interested in AE faience artistry - the pictures alone are worth it. A fine addition to the Egyptophile's library.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very fine book for lovers and collectors of ancient faience, September 26, 2005

By 

Bron "Collector-Antiquities" (London, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gifts of the Nile: Faience from Ancient Egypt (Hardcover)

A superb book, very informative and with wonderfdul and some greatly enlarged photographs.
There is a fair amount of information about faience production technology though the very best work on Egyptian faience and
frit is "Vitreous Materials at Amarna - The production of Glass and faience in 18th Dynasty Egypt" by Andrew J Shortland, this is available from Oxbow books if not avaalable on amazon. Also worth trying to get hold of is "Faiences", the catalogue (in French only) for the recent wonderful exhibition at the Louvre. Unfortunately, this is not available online from the Louvre bookshop. (...)