Egyptian Limestone Relief Fragment

OLD KINGDOM, 2686-2181 B.C.

19 7/8 in. (6.79 kg total, 50.5 cm high including stand).

Rectangular panel carved in sunk relief with vertical borders framing a portion of hieroglyphic inscription ...ḥry sštꜢ n..., '...keeper of secrets of...'.

Provenance

Reputedly acquired by a private collector in 1936.
Ex Ian Colverson Collection, UK (1940-2022).

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12196-222436.

Literature

Cf. Simpson, W.K., The Offering Chapel of Kayemnofret in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Boston, 1992, Figure B, for a complete false door.

Footnotes

The relief is most likely a fragment of a vertical inscription from a false door of an Old Kingdom tomb chapel. The complete inscription was probably an offering formula followed by a list of the tomb owner's titles. The 'keeper of secrets' is a priestly title indicating that one of his roles was as an embalmer.

CONDITION

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LOT 0004