scribal palette;
paint-brush;
paint-mixer;
paint sample
- Museum number
- EA12784
- Description
-
Wooden scribal palette, with two wells containing red and black pigment. The slot for pens is grooved to allow insertion of the cover, only part of which remains. This cover bears a line of right-facing hieroglyphs in raised relief: 'the perfect god, lord of the Two Lands, Nebpehtire, s[on of Ra, Ahmose]'.
A wooden mixing-stick and four rush pens were acquired with this palette; two of the pens have traces of red and black pigment on the end, the other two pens have red pigment on one end and black pigment on the other.
A hieratic note on the underside of the palette reads 'third month of summer ...'
- Dimensions
-
Length: 28.70 centimetres
-
Weight: 73 grammes
-
Width: 0.50 centimetres
-
Depth: 3.40 centimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Inscription subject
royal
- Curator's comments
- Palettes inscribed with royal names may have been particularly significant badges of office, representing the official's status as a 'King's Scribe' and delegate; such palettes might even have been awarded by the king himself.
Bibliography:
S.R.K. Glanville, 'Scribe's palettes in the British Museum. Part l', Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 18 (1932), 55.
A. Roccati and G.C. Vittozzi (ed.), Tra le Palme del Piceno. Egitto (Poggibonsi 2002), 74, fig.1.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
2010 4th Nov-2011 6th March, Round Reading Room BM, Book of the Dead
2012 July - September, Tokyo, Mori museum, The Book of the Dead: Journey Through the Afterlife
2012, October - November, Fukuoka Museum of Art, The Book of the Dead
2013, May - September, Perth, Western Australian Museum, The Book of the Dead
- Condition
- fair
- Acquisition date
- 1857
- Department
- Egypt and Sudan
- BM/Big number
- EA12784
- Registration number
- 1857,0811.65
- Additional IDs
-
Miscellaneous number: BS.5512a (Birch Slip Number)
