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Lot Essay
Sculpted in shallow raised relief and preserving extensive pigment is a profile head of an official facing to the right. He wears a striated wig, with angular features including an aquiline nose and short chin beard. Before him is the hieroglyphic inscription relating to purification ceremonies, which likely is reconstructed as "[Natron of Upper Egypt: 4 (balls)] (and) [Natron] of Lower Egypt: 4 (balls)."
According to Fay (op. cit., vol. 30), this relief can be dated on stylistic grounds to the reign of Amenemhet III. It likely derives from a tomb from an official in the proximity of the Pharaoh’s pyramid complex at Dahshur. The fragment may originate from a scene of the tomb owner with his hand extended over an offering table (compare Cairo CG 1486, the false door of Ipity from Dahshur, pl. 41 in L. Borchardt, Denkmäler des Alten Reiches (ausser den Statuen) im Museum von Kairo).
According to Fay (op. cit., vol. 30), this relief can be dated on stylistic grounds to the reign of Amenemhet III. It likely derives from a tomb from an official in the proximity of the Pharaoh’s pyramid complex at Dahshur. The fragment may originate from a scene of the tomb owner with his hand extended over an offering table (compare Cairo CG 1486, the false door of Ipity from Dahshur, pl. 41 in L. Borchardt, Denkmäler des Alten Reiches (ausser den Statuen) im Museum von Kairo).