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صناعة الاثاث في مصر القديمة (3000 - 1000 ق.م) == Furniture Industry in Ancient Egypt (B.C. 3000 - 1000
Author name:
احمد قاسم سلمان
Supervisor name:
محمد فهد القيسي
General topic:
History
Specific topic:
Ancient History
Degree:
Master
University:
Wasit University - Faculty Of Education - Department Of History
Language:
Arabic
University location:
Wasit
First pages:
11T3401 - p.pdf
Abstract:
The subject of furniture industry in ancient Egypt (3000 - 1000 B.C) is one of the subjects that has a distinctive position in ancient Egypt because of its relationship with the worldly, religious and funerary life. On account of their interest in their comfort, the ancient Egyptians exploited what was available to them of materials in the worldly life in making furniture that was used in their homes and palaces. In order to provide eternal rest for the dead in the other world, industry funerary furniture was buried with them. There was found a lot of models of it in their graves. The Egyptians’ graphics on furniture and craftsmen’s furniture on graves helped us to identify how they made furniture, from which materials it consisted of, in which age it was made, and which tools were used in its manufacture. Furniture makers used very splendid styles in decorating the ancient Egyptian furniture, particularly styles that were related to the religious life; such as, making some of the furniture in the form of a goddess or drawing a goddess on the furniture. The Egyptian funerary furniture is regarded as the best kind of furniture in the ancient East at that time. This is largely because of the Egyptians’ interest in providing comfort for themselves in a world beyond death. The Egyptian furniture is considered as the best furniture that was made in the ancient Near East. Through examination of the models found, it becomes clear that they were made with great accuracy and skill. The ancient Egyptians used techniques that were not found in the ancient Near East. As a result of the importance of the Egyptian furniture and aesthetic characteristics it has, furniture in the time present is made on the same models of the ancient Egyptian furniture.Because Egypt lacks good timber that is necessary in furniture industry, they had to bring the timber from neighboring countries, especially from the Levant. However, the nature of the Egyptian environment helped the availability of the minerals and rocks in ancient Egypt and the Egyptians exploited them. The furniture was made from wood, metal, stone , ivory, glass and other materials. However, most furniture was made of wood because the wooden furniture was abundantly found in Egypt and it was studded with gold, silver and ivory. The best furniture that was found in ancient Egypt was in the tomb of King Tutankhamen, during the modern state, where it was found many of the funerary furniture, especially that was made of wood and gold.The study has been divided into exordium and five chapters preceded by an introduction and ended up by conclusion. Chapter one titled ( Raw materials and their sources) comprised of four parts; part one (raw plants), in this part, we discussed the local and imported trees and their types in addition to the reed and flax and dyeing plants which were used for making the furniture. Part two : (minerals and stones raw materials) tackled the minerals which are used in furniture manufacturing and the stones which are used in the construction, and the semi and precious stones which were used in making the furniture. Part three : ( raw materials of animals and other materials) tackled the animal materials which were used in making the furniture including the basic ones such as the ivory and the skins or the minor materials used for the emblazonment such as seashell and oyster. Part four (sources of raw materials) tackled the neighboring countries which provide Egypt with the raw materials whether peacefully or by waging war, in addition, the economic relation with other states in relation to the materials used in manufacturing the furniture.Chapter two : ( furniture manufacturing techniques) comprised of three parts; prat one (makers, workshops and their circumstances) discussed the titles of the makers, their types , and their works; workshops, their types, their management, and the circumstances and workers' wages. Part two ( tools of work) discussed the tools, their types and assembling and their usage. Part three : (technical ways) deals with ways used in emblazoning the furniture such as gilding, platting, sculpting , and ornamenting. Chapter three : ( manufacturing of earthly furniture) comprised of four parts; part one (wooden furniture) explained sitting and sleeping and carrying and keeping luggage furniture Part two : (stone and pottery furniture) tackled engraving the furniture and ways of making the furniture. Part three : (mineral and ivory furniture) tackled the ways and the use of the minerals in making the furniture and their types, how to engrave the ivory and making the furniture. Part four : (other materials) tackled the glass and Persian emblazonment and leather furniture and how to make the furniture out of those materials and their types. Chapter four : (Manufacturing of religious and funeral furniture) comprises of four parts, part one : (wooden furniture) we discussed the temples and graves furniture and the influence of the Egyptian beliefs on manufacturing them. Part two : (stone and pottery furniture) tackled the types and stones and pottery; part three (mineral furniture) tackled the minerals and the ways of making the furniture. Part four : (other materials) referred to other materials which the furniture is made of.The study is ended by a conclusion summarizing the most important results of the study throughout its four chapters in addition to appendixes which contain tables and shape, drawings related to the topic.
