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Stone scribal palette of Huy (Amenhotep)
Egyptian
New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, likely reign of Amenhot
1390–1352 B.C.
Medium/Technique
Travertine (Egyptian alabaster)
Dimensions
Width x thickness: 7.3 x 1.1 cm (2 7/8 x 7/16 in.)
Original length (projected minimum): 43 cm (16 15/16 in.)
Original length (projected maximum): 51 cm (20 1/16 in.)
Original length (projected minimum): 43 cm (16 15/16 in.)
Original length (projected maximum): 51 cm (20 1/16 in.)
Credit Line
Hay Collection—Gift of C. Granville Way
Accession Number72.663a-i
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAncient Egypt, Nubia and the Near East
ClassificationsTools and equipment – Writing
DescriptionThis object is a fragmentary inscribed model scribal palette of travertine (Egyptian alabaster). The back and edges are flat and smoothed. The front face (obverse) is decorated with finely incised hieroglyphic text in four divided columns with a religious scene at top. Thirteen scattered fragments remain, some joined (and some numbered collectively).
Remnants of the top scene show the mummiform funerary god Osiris at left with the label "Osiris, great god." To the right is a portion of the god Ptah, also shown characteristically mummiform and inside a kiosk. The extreme right of the scene (now missing) would likely have included a depiction of the owner, Huy, facing the deities in a pose of adoration. The text, though considerably broken, is clearly an offering formula/request for the deceased Huy.
True to its mimicking of functional scribal palettes, this model would have originally had two circular ink wells (one for black ink, one for red), though a small portion of only one remains. The remnants indicate that these depressions were surrounded by the shen-sign hieroglyphs (a circle of rope similar to a cartouche, which was also used on some palettes to border ink wells).
Remnants of the top scene show the mummiform funerary god Osiris at left with the label "Osiris, great god." To the right is a portion of the god Ptah, also shown characteristically mummiform and inside a kiosk. The extreme right of the scene (now missing) would likely have included a depiction of the owner, Huy, facing the deities in a pose of adoration. The text, though considerably broken, is clearly an offering formula/request for the deceased Huy.
True to its mimicking of functional scribal palettes, this model would have originally had two circular ink wells (one for black ink, one for red), though a small portion of only one remains. The remnants indicate that these depressions were surrounded by the shen-sign hieroglyphs (a circle of rope similar to a cartouche, which was also used on some palettes to border ink wells).
ProvenanceBy 1836: Robert Hay Collection, Linplum, Scotland; 1863: to his son, Robert James Alexander Hay; 1868-1872: Way Collection, Boston (purchased by Samuel A. Way through London dealers Rollin and Feuardent, 27 Haymarket); 1872: given to the MFA by Samuel's son, C. Granville Way.
(Accession Date: June 28, 1872)
(Accession Date: June 28, 1872)