Egyptian relief fragment, Old Kingdom, late 5th Dynasty, c.2400 BC

Egyptian relief fragment.

Old Kingdom.

Late 5th Dynasty.

Circa 2400 BC.

Limestone.

Fragmentary limestone relief carved with the upper part of a seated scribe, two reed pens tucked behind an elongated ear, the figure possibly holding a scroll of papyrus.

Behind him is the bowed head of another male figure. Both with short cropped hair, large almond-shaped eyes and extended eyebrows. A shallow chip to the edge between the two heads, the surface partially lightly abraded.

This fragment comes from a wall relief, likely from a Mastaba, showing a tax collecting scene in which village herdsmen are being brought before local tax officials and flogged for non-payment. The scribe records the event and the figure behind is bending forwards following his punishment.

In the Christie’s catalogue of 1968 this fragment was described as ‘An Egyptian limestone fragment carved in relief with a female bust and a head behind - 6 3/4in (17.1cm) wide - Amarna period’. It was subsequently seen by Harry James of the British Museum who gave it the current dating and description.

Provenance

Folio Fine Arts, London, UK; acquired 11th June 1968 

Colin McFadyen, UK
Charles Ede Ltd, London, UK, 1992
Giancarlo Ligabue, Venice, Italy

Literature

Compare J. Vandier, Manuel d'archéologie égyptienne, tome IV (Paris, 1964), p.196, fig. 83
Christiane Ziegler, Stèles, peintures et reliefs égyptiens de l'Ancien Empire (Paris, 1990), pp.302-303, n.62
Christiane Ziegler, Le mastaba d'Akhethetep. Une chapelle funéraire de l'Ancien Empire (Paris, 1993), pp.41, 76, 116

Publications

Christie, Manson & Woods, London, UK, Antiquities, 11th June 1968, lot 32
Charles Ede, Small Sculpture from Ancient Egypt XIX (London, 1992), no.2

V. Domenici, 5000 anni di ABC, dans Ligabue magazine, no.28 (1996), p.50

In the Christie’s catalogue of 1968 this fragment was described as ‘An Egyptian limestone fragment carved in relief with a female bust and a head behind - 6 3/4in (17.1cm) wide - Amarna period’. It was subsequently seen by Harry James of the British Museum who gave it the current dating and description.

Dimensions

Price on application

This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

Stock number