[Illustration:  Fig. 286.—­Silver vase of Thmuis.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 287.—­Ornamental basket in precious metal.  From wall-painting, Twentieth Dynasty.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 288.—­Crater of precious metal, borne by slaves.  Wall-painting, Eighteenth Dynasty.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 289.—­Hydria of precious metal.  Wall-painting, Eighteenth Dynasty.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 290.—­Enamelled cruet.  Wall-painting, Eighteenth Dynasty.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 291.—­Enamelled cruet.  Wall-painting, Eighteenth Dynasty.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 292.—­Gold centre-piece of Amenhotep III.  Wall-painting, Eighteenth Dynasty.]

The Pharaohs had not our commercial resources, and could not circulate the gold and silver tribute-offerings of conquered nations in the form of coin.  When the gods had received their share of the booty, there was no alternative but to melt the rest down into ingots, fashion it into personal ornaments, or convert it into gold and silver plate.  What was true of the kings held good also for their subjects.  For the space of at least six or eight centuries, dating from the time of Ahmes I., the taste for plate was carried to excess.  Every good house was not only stocked with all that was needful for the service of the table, such as cups, goblets, plates, ewers, and ornamental baskets chased with figures of fantastic animals (fig. 287); but also with large ornamental vases which were dressed with flowers, and displayed to visitors on gala days.  Some of these vases were of extraordinary richness.  Here, for instance, is a crater, the handles modelled as two papyrus buds, and the foot as a full-blown papyrus.  Two Asiatic slaves in sumptuous garments are represented in the act of upheaving it with all their strength (fig. 288).  Here, again, is a kind of hydria with a lid in the form of an inverted lotus flanked by the heads of two gazelles (fig. 289).  The heads and necks of two horses, bridled and fully caparisoned, stand back to back on either side of the foot of the vase.  The body is divided into a series of horizontal zones, the middle zone being in the likeness of a marshland, with an antelope coursing at full speed among the reeds.  Two enamelled cruets (fig. 290) have elaborately wrought lids, one fashioned as the head of a plumed eagle, and the other as the head of the god Bes flanked by two vipers (fig. 291).  But foremost among them all is a golden centrepiece offered by a viceroy of Ethiopia to Amenhotep III.  The design reproduces one of the most popular subjects connected with the foreign conquests of Egypt (fig. 292).  Men and apes are seen gathering fruits in a forest of dom palms.  Two natives, each with a single feather on his head and a striped kilt about his loins, lead tame giraffes with halters.  Others, apparently of the same nationality, kneel with upraised hands, as if begging for quarter.  Two negro prisoners lying face downwards upon the ground, lift their heads