January 28, 1952
An exhibition of Egyptian writing from the earliest times to the present day opens today (January 28) at the Brooklyn Museum. It will remain on view through April 6.
The exhibition includes not only specimens of hieroglyphs in stone and on papyrus, the ancient forerunner of paper, but also writing equipment such as palettes which still contain cakes of ink showing signs of use by scribes some three thousand years ago. Inkwells, knives for cutting papyrus and burnishers for smoothing its surface are also shown. Sculptures of early scribes and other material illustrating the life of a scribe give an idea of the importance of a man who could read and write in ancient Egypt where the great mass of inhabitants was illiterate.
Most of the pieces shown are from The Brooklyn Museum’s Collection, but objects were lent to the exhibition by the following: Detroit Museum of Art, The Metropolitan Museum, Museum of Fine Arts at Boston, the Walters Art Gallery of Baltimore, and Mr. Michael Abemayer.
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Coincident with the opening of the exhibition, The Brooklyn Museum announces the publication of series 2 of “People of the Black Land,” for young people of high school age. This series which consists of four leaflets discusses in simple terms the main characteristics of Egyptian writing and language, the nature of Egyptian writing material and the life and education of the scribe.
Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1947 - 1952. 01-03/1952, 008. View Original
