12019-05-01T13:54:21-07:00Emilia Porubcin63ec028064958b3240cc8e4e010f355faa0c8e12332308plain2019-05-13T18:02:22-07:00Emilia Porubcin63ec028064958b3240cc8e4e010f355faa0c8e12Timothy Hopkins was a protégé of Jane and Leland Stanford and an influential early Stanford University trustee. He also was a keen collector and acquired cultural items from around the world for the growing collections of the University Museum. Hopkins subscribed to the Egypt Exploration Fund. He joined in 1900 or 1901 by paying $125 for a “life membership.” The EEF sent him many items, anticipating they would be donated to Stanford's museum. Hopkins also took at least two trips to Egypt and likely purchased items there. His handwritten journal mentions stays at the iconic Shepheard’s Hotel in Cairo in both 1892/1893 and 1928.
12019-04-17T02:34:24-07:00Emilia Porubcin63ec028064958b3240cc8e4e010f355faa0c8e12Spouted Vessel, Partial (21103)5This object is remarkable not for its trivial purpose or simple construction but for the careful efforts put into its conservation. The hole on its upper body marks a loss. It was originally a “spouted vessel” used to hold and pour liquid. When whole, it resembled the complete Pre-dynastic vessel (ca. 3500 BCE) shown in the accompanying image. Despite missing parts, inexpert mends, scratches, and damage, considerable effort was put into this vessel’s restoration in the early twentieth century when conservation practices weren’t as advanced as they are now. This determination highlights the importance of the vessel to the collector. We find value in the effort that went into making this common, simple vessel whole again.media/21103 in ex.jpgplain2019-05-14T23:14:08-07:00Excavated by William M. Flinders Petrie during an Egypt Exploration Fund project in 1894–1895; acquired by Timothy Hopkins, who donated the work to Stanford prior to 1939Emilia Porubcin63ec028064958b3240cc8e4e010f355faa0c8e12
12019-05-08T16:08:08-07:00Emilia Porubcin63ec028064958b3240cc8e4e010f355faa0c8e12Crocodile Figurine, Partial (20824)3This figurine is the Egyptian crocodile god Suchus (a.k.a. Sobek) missing his snout. The picture of a complete version from the same site is shown nearby. As it is an object meant for worship, it may seem odd that the object is so roughly constructed. For instance, when looking at the top of the object, one can clearly see the join between the figurine’s two molded sides. This careless construction elucidates that this object was intended for commoners. Such figurines were mass-produced for worshipers of Suchus to put on their altars at home.media/20824 in ex-min.jpgplain2019-05-14T23:15:06-07:00Excavated by William M. Flinders Petrie on behalf of the Egypt Exploration Fund in 1903–1904; donated to Stanford by Timothy Hopkins in 1905Emilia Porubcin63ec028064958b3240cc8e4e010f355faa0c8e12
12019-05-08T16:16:38-07:00Emilia Porubcin63ec028064958b3240cc8e4e010f355faa0c8e12Tweezers (20966-2)3Tweezers were commonplace in ancient Egypt and often used in conjunction with mirrors. Early tweezers like these were used by individuals to pluck hairs—much like in our own society. Egyptologists also believe that certain tweezers were used as tongs to hold pots over ovens. The difference in function came down to size; larger tweezers were necessary for cooking, while smaller tweezers, such as these, were meant for one’s body.media/20966-2.JPGplain2019-05-14T23:38:53-07:00Excavated by Bernard G. Grenfell Arthur S. Hunt between 1893 and 1894, acquired by Timothy Hopkins from the Egyptian Exploration Fund in 1909 and donated to StanfordEmilia Porubcin63ec028064958b3240cc8e4e010f355faa0c8e12
12019-05-08T16:17:50-07:00Emilia Porubcin63ec028064958b3240cc8e4e010f355faa0c8e12Hairpin, Fragment (20595-2)3Used in tandem with a mirror, this decorative hairpin offers yet another material connection between ancient personal practices and those of contemporary society. A luxury item, hairpins were used by wealthy Roman Egyptian women to maintain their elaborate hairstyles. Although many hairpins were straight, some, like this one, were crescent-shaped. Of a type known as an orbis, this piece was meant to be seen, simultaneously showing an Egyptian aesthetic and acting as a status symbol.media/20595-2.JPGplain2019-05-14T23:21:30-07:00Excavated by the Egypt Exploration Fund in 1906–1907, acquired by Timothy Hopkins from Fund and donated to Stanford in 1911Emilia Porubcin63ec028064958b3240cc8e4e010f355faa0c8e12
12019-05-08T16:19:19-07:00Emilia Porubcin63ec028064958b3240cc8e4e010f355faa0c8e12Pin Lock Component (14082)3Perhaps taking inspiration from Mesopotamian technology, ancient Egyptians crafted this decorated item to keep valuables secure in life and death. It entered the collection with fragments of jewelry, so we assume this lock once kept jewelry protected from thieves or tomb robbers. Adornments were so commonplace in ancient Egypt, jewelry was a “luxury” that became almost a necessity. Thus, many people needed a place to keep it safe. This piece draws further parallels between contemporary and ancient experiences. Just as we have special places to put valuables, so too did ancient Egyptians.media/14082.JPGplain2019-05-14T23:33:44-07:00Likely acquired by Timothy Hopkins from the Egyptian Exploration Fund and donated it to Stanford before 1939Emilia Porubcin63ec028064958b3240cc8e4e010f355faa0c8e12
12019-05-08T16:22:09-07:00Emilia Porubcin63ec028064958b3240cc8e4e010f355faa0c8e12Rod and Chain Links (20977-3)3A seemingly simple combination of a rod and chain links tells a story of appearance in ancient Egypt. Jewelry was an important component of everyday life of all classes in ancient and later Egypt. Gold and copper were typically reserved for the wealthy; however, the technology of bronze provided luxury at a fraction of the cost. We believe this bronze rod and chain was most likely a jewelry component, perhaps securing a necklace or wrist bangle, worn by a working member of later Egyptian society.media/20977-3.JPGplain2019-05-14T23:35:07-07:00Gift of Timothy Hopkins to Stanford University prior to 1939Emilia Porubcin63ec028064958b3240cc8e4e010f355faa0c8e12
12019-05-13T17:47:40-07:00Emilia Porubcin63ec028064958b3240cc8e4e010f355faa0c8e12Miniature Earthenware Vessel (20751)4This small vessel is a model of a larger one and was intended for a funerary setting, probably of a modest person who could not afford full-sized accompaniments. With a rim opening only large enough to barely fit one finger inside, it is evidently too small to contain any liquids or food. Its hand-built construction is evident by the unbalanced base and thickly textured walls. That this object was neither thrown nor coiled suggests its early creation by a potter in Pre-dynastic Egypt.media/filler star.pngplain2019-05-14T23:29:31-07:00Excavated for the Egypt Exploration Fund during a 1906 to 1909 expedition; sent to Timothy Hopkins, who donated it to Stanford in 1911Emilia Porubcin63ec028064958b3240cc8e4e010f355faa0c8e12
Arthur Hunt was a pioneering papyrologist, specializing in the translation of ancient Egyptian writing systems. He worked closely with Bernard Grenfell to establish the field. They jointly led archaeological expeditions to recover papyri, including at the middle Egypt site of Bahnasa (Oxyrhynchus) on behalf of the Graeco-Roman Branch of the Egypt Exploration Society. Like many of its best provenanced Egyptian materials, Grenfell and Hunt's finds came to Stanford University through Timothy Hopkin's subscription to the EEF. Hunt and Grenfell's excavations were approved by Gaston Maspero, the influential Director of Egypt's Antiquities Service.Emilia Porubcin63ec028064958b3240cc8e4e010f355faa0c8e12
12019-05-01T13:56:19-07:00Emilia Porubcin63ec028064958b3240cc8e4e010f355faa0c8e12Henri Édouard NavilleEmilia Porubcin8(1844-1926)structured_gallery2019-05-15T03:52:35-07:00
(1844-1926)
The Swiss archaeologist Henri Naville was an important figure in late nineteenth and early twentieth-century Egyptology. His field projects were supported by the Egypt Exploration Fund, for whom he worked after 1882 excavating and publishing on numerous significant sites, all approved by Antiquities Director Gaston Maspero. Naville was succeeded in this position by William Petrie. Items excavated by Naville, including from the famous mortuary site of Deir el-Bahari, came to Stanford thanks to Timothy Hopkins' EEF subscription.Emilia Porubcin63ec028064958b3240cc8e4e010f355faa0c8e12
12019-05-01T13:56:50-07:00Emilia Porubcin63ec028064958b3240cc8e4e010f355faa0c8e12William Matthew Flinders PetrieEmilia Porubcin8structured_gallery2019-05-11T16:06:15-07:00William Petrie is best known for advancing professional archaeological methods and championing the value of context and objects of daily life. Petrie is also noted for his early, and at the time unusual, interest in periods both before and after Pharaonic Egypt. He was a remarkably active excavator in Egypt (and elsewhere) over several decades, regularly collaborating with his wife Hilda Mary Isabel Urlin Petrie, a geologist and artist. From 1884-1886 and 1896-1905, William Petrie's field projects were supported by the Egypt Exploration Fund. Timothy Hopkins' generosity to the EEF brought items from Petrie's excavations to Stanford. Petrie's excavations were approved by Gaston Maspero, the influential Director of Egypt's Antiquities Services. From 1884-1886 and 1896-1905, Petrie worked for the Egypt Exploration Fund, following Édouard Naville in that role.Emilia Porubcin63ec028064958b3240cc8e4e010f355faa0c8e12
Bernard Grenfell was a pioneering papyrologist, specializing in the translation of ancient Egyptian writing systems. He trained under William Petrie and worked closely with Arthur Hunt to establish the field. They jointly led archaeological expeditions to recover papyri, including at the middle Egypt site of Bahnasa (Oxyrhynchus) on behalf of the Graeco-Roman Branch of the Egypt Exploration Society. Like many of its best provenanced Egyptian materials, Grenfell and Hunt's finds came to Stanford University through Timothy Hopkins' subscription to the EEF. Grenfell and Hunt's excavations were approved by Gaston Maspero, the influential Director of Egypt's Antiquities Service.Emilia Porubcin63ec028064958b3240cc8e4e010f355faa0c8e12