A Cork Model of the Great Pyramid of Giza

Contemporary, in the spirit of the 18th-century Roman cork modelling tradition

A large and finely executed cork model depicting the Great Pyramid of Giza, constructed from hand-cut layers of natural Portuguese cork to evoke the weathered masonry of the ancient monument as it appears today.

The model follows the long tradition of Grand Tour cork architectural models, popularised in Rome during the late eighteenth century by workshops such as that of Antonio Chichi and Richard Du Bourg, whose works were acquired by collectors and travellers as evocative representations of classical ruins.

Here the layered cork construction reproduces the stepped courses of the pyramid’s exposed core masonry following the loss of its original casing stones. Deliberate areas of erosion, fractured blocks and surface irregularity evoke the immense antiquity of the monument and the dramatic weathering that characterises the structure today.

Subtle tonal variation within the cork, ranging from pale limestone hues to warm desert ochres, enhances the illusion of aged stone under strong Egyptian light.

Both an architectural study and a sculptural object, the model captures the powerful geometric clarity of the pyramid while retaining the romantic sensibility associated with Grand Tour representations of ancient monuments.

Mounted on a rectangular base with sand-textured forecourt

50 x 52 x 45 cm