Model of a Granary with Scribes:
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/545281#
The “Model of a Granary with Scribes,” from the 18th century BC, was discovered in a hidden chamber near the tomb of Meketre, a chief steward under King Nebhepetre Metuhotep II. The object depicts an active Egyptian granary and is reminiscent of a Playmobil playset, albeit made over 4000 years ago.
The whole model is made up of only four colors: tan, brown, black, and white. For a scene comprised of so little color, the piece is surprisingly vivid. It’s easy to tell exactly what’s supposed to be happening, despite the fact that the model is made up of simple shapes.
The exterior looks not unlike a large cardboard box, about the size of a horizontal desktop computer tower, with the top open. Each of the four top corners is peaked upward, so the negative space along each edge of the box forms a wide trapezoid. At the top of each corner is a black seam where the wood of each wall meets. The whole model is supported by two small wood bars along the shorter sides of the box, offset from the edge by about an inch.
The box itself is made out of light brown wood and plaster, cracked with age. On one of the long sides, there is a rectangular opening to form a doorway, with a painted trim along the sides, about 1cm in width. The left, right, and top sides of the opening are a dark brown, while the bottom side is painted white.
On the inside of the doorway is a functioning door, on a round hinge, made out of a thin dark brown wood, with multiple slats, holding it together. The whole door piece looks similar to a chocolate bar, swiveled open at a 45-degree angle.
Scattered on the floor of the box are bits of grain. The inside of the box is divided into two sections, or rooms, with the second room being double the size of the first. In the first section are ten figurines of men doing various tasks. Each figurine measures about eight inches tall. Their skin has a light brown, reddish color, wearing torn, white sackcloths made out of linen. Two of the men are seated, writing something on papyrus–presumably taking account of the grain distribution–and two more are doing the same using wooden boards.
Next to the scribes, along the furthest wall are three crouching men, each with dark brown hair, interacting with a bald, standing man holding a white and black striped barrel. Behind the barrel man’s back is another open doorway, identical to the main entryway, leading to the other section. Exiting this door, on the other side of the first wall, is another figure of a man holding a tan bag of grain on his back.
The second section, furthest from the entrance, is split into four quarters with more doorway-like openings on these walls too. The intersecting wall, perpendicular to the main dividing wall, is about double the thickness of the other walls, and set a few inches lower, as well.
Next to this thicker wall, along the intersecting wall, is a small staircase leading up to the top of the thick, center wall. Standing along the top of the center wall are five figures of men holding bags of grain on their outstretched arms. The two men nearest the entrance are facing that way, while the other three are facing the opposite wall. The clothes are only painted on the first three figures, while the other two feature paint and actual cloth. The fourth character is dirtier than the others, with its head covered in a white dust-like substance, presumably extra white paint.
There is so much perceived motion that it wouldn’t be that outlandish to say that if someone were to press an imaginary “play” button, the figures would come to life, going about their granary duties, like a stop-motion film.
Overall, the model strikes a good balance between being made out of simple shapes, being easy to grasp what’s happening, while also being detailed enough to give the viewer a good picture of what life working in granary 4000 years ago would be like.
