Egyptian relief fragment of a scribe, Old Kingdom, late 5th-6th Dynasty, c.2400-2100 BC
Limestone
Dimensions: 13.4 x 17.6cm
10407
£ 22,000
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...
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.
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.
Provenance
Folio Fine Arts, London, UK; acquired 11th June 1968
Colin McFadyean, UK
Charles Ede Ltd, London, UK, 1992
Giancarlo Ligabue, Venice, Italy
Literature
There is an example which shows the exact same pose for both figures in a relief at the Mastaba of Mereruka, a priest of Pharaoh Teti, in Saqqara c.2340 BCPublications
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.
