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Funerary cone of Neferhotep and Amenhotep
Egyptian
New Kingdom, Dynasty 18–20
1550–1070 B.C.
Medium/Technique
Pottery
Dimensions
Height x diameter: 3.8 x 8.6 cm (1 1/2 x 3 3/8 in.)
Credit Line
Hay Collection—Gift of C. Granville Way
Accession Number72.4737
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAncient Egypt, Nubia and the Near East
ClassificationsArchitectural elements
Catalogue Raisonné
Davies & MacAdam 359
DescriptionFunerary cone fragment of reddish clay with most of tapering cone element sawed off and missing; traces of white priming. Circular stamp impression on head with an undivided register, identifying owners as: "Fourth Prophet of Amen, Neferhotep, True-of-Voice" and "his wife, Amenhotep." (Hm-ntr 4-nw n Imn Nfr-Htp MAa-xrw Hmt.f Imn-Htp). Fragment broken from top left.
Funerary cones were components of a frieze, inserted above the doors of private tombs, particularly in the Theban region. They have been variously interpreted as: name-plates of sorts to identify the tomb owner, decorative memorials, boundary markers for a tomb, dummy bread loaves or meat offerings, symbolic roof beams, or (for the visible circular head) depictions of the sun disk.
For other examples of the same owner see: RES.72.264, 72.1763, RES.72.265.
Davies and Macadam, A Corpus of Inscribed Egyptian Funerary Cones (1957), type #359.
Funerary cones were components of a frieze, inserted above the doors of private tombs, particularly in the Theban region. They have been variously interpreted as: name-plates of sorts to identify the tomb owner, decorative memorials, boundary markers for a tomb, dummy bread loaves or meat offerings, symbolic roof beams, or (for the visible circular head) depictions of the sun disk.
For other examples of the same owner see: RES.72.264, 72.1763, RES.72.265.
Davies and Macadam, A Corpus of Inscribed Egyptian Funerary Cones (1957), type #359.
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)