I enjoy the way that Egyptian furniture often has feet that are modelled after the feet of animals. This example is shaped like a bull’s hoof and is particularly finely carved from elephant ivory.

It was found at Umm el-Qab, a royal cemetery at Abdyos with burials of 1st Dynasty kings as well as some pre-dynastic tombs and two 2nd Dynasty tombs. Bulls are a symbol of the king’s power, and the beauty of this carving suggests to me that it was a piece of royal furniture.

It’s a reminder that even 5000 years ago at the beginning of a unified Egyptian state they were already a highly sophisticated society. The elites lived in luxury, surrounded by beautiful objects.

This object is now in the Met Museum, acc. no.: 26.7.1282.

See it on my photo site: https://photos.talesfromthetwolands.org/picture.php?/1401

Jigsaw Puzzles:
easier: https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=1b9114230ecd
harder: https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=3c3ce90786eb