Griffith Institute w&d 165 | Kheker-frieze wall decoration
Artist
Marcus W. Blackden.
Date
Not dated, probably 1891.
Site
Deir el-Bersha.
Tomb of Djehutinakht. Dynasty XII.
Deir el-Bersha.
Tomb of Djehutinakht. Dynasty XII.
Description
Detail of khekher-frieze wall decoration.
From scene: Khekher decoration from upper part of walls in Hall and Shrine.
Detail of khekher-frieze wall decoration.
From scene: Khekher decoration from upper part of walls in Hall and Shrine.
Technical data
Watercolour.
170 mm x 240 mm.
Annotations:
Watercolour, recto [no mount],
'M. W. B.' [initialed signature]; 'Tomb I El Bersheh II. Pl. V.'; 'El Bersheh II. Pl. V.'.
Watercolour, verso [no mount],
'Kheker ornament Tehutinekht (El Bersheh II )'.
Watercolour.
170 mm x 240 mm.
Annotations:
Watercolour, recto [no mount],
'M. W. B.' [initialed signature]; 'Tomb I El Bersheh II. Pl. V.'; 'El Bersheh II. Pl. V.'.
Watercolour, verso [no mount],
'Kheker ornament Tehutinekht (El Bersheh II )'.
Griffith Institute w&d
165
165
Publications
See PM iv.177, 179 | TopBib 409-060-010-010; GI w&d Deir el-Bersha Project; Griffith, F. L. & Newberry, P. E. El Bersheh ii [1895], 17, 18 pl. v [upper left].
See PM iv.177, 179 | TopBib 409-060-010-010; GI w&d Deir el-Bersha Project; Griffith, F. L. & Newberry, P. E. El Bersheh ii [1895], 17, 18 pl. v [upper left].
![Griffith, F. L. & Newberry, P. E. El Bersheh ii [1895], 17, 18 pl. v [upper left]](http://www.griffith.ox.ac.uk/archive/GI-watercolours/images/Griffith_and_Newberry_El_Bersheh_ii_pl_v.jpg){kind=link}
The kheker-frieze is a common motif frequently used in temples and tombs, and most often observed decorating the upper borders of scenes at the top or dado height of walls. The kheker probably represents stylised plant material which has been tied into a bundle or a decorative knot. This motif, replicated both in stone and paint, is thought to represent or originate from the knotted fringes of a mat or rolled-up sun-shade hung in the entrances and windows of buildings.
This example from the tomb of Djehutinakht at Deir el-Bersha is a very short section of the kheker-frieze which decoratated the uppermost part of the walls throughout this noble's tomb.
Photography Jenni Navratil, assisted by Hana Navratilova
Editing and web pages Elizabeth Fleming, assisted by Francisco Bosch-Puche & Cat Warsi.