DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49517#0285
WOODEN OBJECTS
217
the only definite evidence of the section and of the height (or thickness) of the brace above the surface
on which it rested, and that indicated that the brace was of half-oval section and exactly as high as
it was wide (3 cm.). The elbow was of course slightly higher at the turn, and the pendent arm
tapered away from a height of 3-1.2 cm. at 1 cm. from the tip (see Fig. 204). The arms of the brace
on the forward pair of legs usually slanted back nearly parallel to the front line of the shoulder of
the legs, as otherwise the ends of the brace would have protruded beyond the curve of the shoulder.
These braces ought to have been of bent wood, bent either in the tree or artificially, for if cut from
a board the cross-grain at the elbow would have been a serious weakness. It is true that one metal
casing was found which would have counteracted this weakness, but there was only one such sheath
from over one hundred beds. The artificial bending of wood is pictured in Middle Kingdom tombs,1
Fig. 207
as at Beni Hasan where the wooden stick is shown being heated (w?-t) over a basin of hot water (?)
and being bent (Skf); and the small section of the brace (3x3 cm.) lends itself to this operation.
But it is possible that the brace was of three pieces mortised at the elbows, after the Egyptian
manner.
The leg-brace was pegged to the under side of the bed, across side-boards and end-board,
by means of four pins on each side of the middle — three in the end-board and one in the
side-board. The pins (12-15) passed entirely through the boards and the brace; and
the pin (12) in the side-board, which was shifted slightly from the medial line to avoid the
mortise-pin (11), also passed through the back tenon of the end-board (see Figs. 193, 196).
In the middle of the end-board, there was also a tunnel-hole (16) under the brace for a
thong-tie (see p. 218). The lower arm of the leg-brace was set in a groove on the inside of
the leg and fastened to the leg by means of two (or three) pegs and a thong-tie, or in some
cases by three pegs only. The pegs passed entirely through the leg and, no doubt, through
the brace also, while the thong-tie passed through a tunnel-hole in the thickness of the leg
under the tip of the arm (see Figs. 194, 195).
The fastening of tenons in mortises by means of small wooden pins is after the usual
Egyptian manner. The pins, or pegs, have of course rotted away, but they must have been
driven into the holes and cut off at the surfaces. Except for pin 4 of the footboard brace,
all the holes go entirely through the boards. They are all small, measuring at present from
1 Newberry, Beni Hasan II, Pl. VII.
217
the only definite evidence of the section and of the height (or thickness) of the brace above the surface
on which it rested, and that indicated that the brace was of half-oval section and exactly as high as
it was wide (3 cm.). The elbow was of course slightly higher at the turn, and the pendent arm
tapered away from a height of 3-1.2 cm. at 1 cm. from the tip (see Fig. 204). The arms of the brace
on the forward pair of legs usually slanted back nearly parallel to the front line of the shoulder of
the legs, as otherwise the ends of the brace would have protruded beyond the curve of the shoulder.
These braces ought to have been of bent wood, bent either in the tree or artificially, for if cut from
a board the cross-grain at the elbow would have been a serious weakness. It is true that one metal
casing was found which would have counteracted this weakness, but there was only one such sheath
from over one hundred beds. The artificial bending of wood is pictured in Middle Kingdom tombs,1
Fig. 207
as at Beni Hasan where the wooden stick is shown being heated (w?-t) over a basin of hot water (?)
and being bent (Skf); and the small section of the brace (3x3 cm.) lends itself to this operation.
But it is possible that the brace was of three pieces mortised at the elbows, after the Egyptian
manner.
The leg-brace was pegged to the under side of the bed, across side-boards and end-board,
by means of four pins on each side of the middle — three in the end-board and one in the
side-board. The pins (12-15) passed entirely through the boards and the brace; and
the pin (12) in the side-board, which was shifted slightly from the medial line to avoid the
mortise-pin (11), also passed through the back tenon of the end-board (see Figs. 193, 196).
In the middle of the end-board, there was also a tunnel-hole (16) under the brace for a
thong-tie (see p. 218). The lower arm of the leg-brace was set in a groove on the inside of
the leg and fastened to the leg by means of two (or three) pegs and a thong-tie, or in some
cases by three pegs only. The pegs passed entirely through the leg and, no doubt, through
the brace also, while the thong-tie passed through a tunnel-hole in the thickness of the leg
under the tip of the arm (see Figs. 194, 195).
The fastening of tenons in mortises by means of small wooden pins is after the usual
Egyptian manner. The pins, or pegs, have of course rotted away, but they must have been
driven into the holes and cut off at the surfaces. Except for pin 4 of the footboard brace,
all the holes go entirely through the boards. They are all small, measuring at present from
1 Newberry, Beni Hasan II, Pl. VII.