The Griffith Institute
University of Oxford
Bersha Watercolours

Griffith Institute w&d 156 [upper] | Wild fowl caught in a net


Griffith Institute Watercolour 156 [upper]
Griffith Institute w&d 156 [upper]
© Griffith Institute Watercolours & Drawings Project

Artist Howard Carter.

Date 1893.

Site
Deir el-Bersha.
Tomb of Djehutihotep. Temp. Sesostris II and Sesostris III.
Hall (Inner Room). North wall, upper part.

Description
A group of ducks caught in a net.
From scene: Top register, Djehutihotep and son (above doorway) netting wild fowl, with wife standing by net.

Technical data
Watercolour.
137 mm x 159 mm.
Mounted with GI w&d 156 [lower]
Annotations:
Mount, recto,
'Howard Carter 1893.' [signature and date, below GI w&d 156 [lower]];
'El Bersheh I. Pl. XXI middle. ✓'.

Griffith Institute w&d
156 [upper]

Publications
See PM iv.180(17)-(18) | TopBib 409-060-010-020; GI w&d Deir el-Bersha Project; Newberry, P. E. El Bersheh i [1894], 30-1 pls. xx, xxi.

Based solely on the original tracings made by Howard Carter in 1891-2 and his subsequent copy of the birds depicted in the upper centre right of the claptrap in the pool of wild fowl and not on any modern photograph of this scene, the six birds on the right and the darker one at the bottom left are almost certainly Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), while the one in the centre has most of the features of a male Common Teal, (Anas crecca). The four red-headed birds at top and centre left could also be Northern Pintail but, because the necks are also painted red, Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), and Goosander (Mergus merganser) cannot be ruled out. However, the blue bill and head shape do appear to eliminate the latter. The lack of any black on the lower neck might also disqualify the latter but for the obvious red eyes. These birds are therefore probably Common Pochard and not Northern Pintail. Three of the remaining four pale birds could be females of the same two species, with a Northern Pintail at the bottom left and two Common Pochard at upper left.


Cataloguing John Wyatt & Lee Young | Commentary John Wyatt
Photography Jenni Navratil, assisted by Hana Navratilova
Editing and web pages Elizabeth Fleming, assisted by Francisco Bosch-Puche & Cat Warsi.