An Egyptian Painted Wood Round-Top Stele

Third Intermediate Period, 21st-22nd Dynasty, 1070-664 B.C.

Height 10 3/4 inches (27.31 cm).

Provenance:

Donald Wonder (1938-2023), California & New Jersey, prior to 1998; thence by descent. [Inv. no. 23]

This stele features an enthroned Osiris with two female musicians and hieroglyphic inscriptions. The inscriptions invoke praise for Osiris and reveal that it was dedicated by Pa-Ser, whose mother is mentioned as the Kheneret, a title denoting a female musician in service to Amun-Re.

The stele has seven columns of hieroglyphs, with the far-left column referencing "The time [?] of the West," potentially indicating the journey to the afterlife. The other six columns are read from left to right, reflecting traditional Egyptian text layout. This piece not only exemplifies the artistry of the Third Intermediate Period but also underscores the cultural significance of feminine titles in ancient Egyptian society. A translation of the inscription is available upon request.

For further reading on feminine titles in ancient Egypt, see W.A. Ward, Essays on Feminine Titles of the Middle Kingdom, B. Bryan, BES 4 (1982), R. Drenkhahn, SAK 4 (1976), Del Nord, Serapis 2 (1970), and Nord, Dunham Fs. (1981).

Inspected under UV light and 10x loupe. Weathering, crackling, and scratches to pigment. Losses and discolorations present. Overall in fine and attractive condition. Affixed to stand. Height with stand 12 inches (30.48 cm).

“Praise to Wenen-nefer (=Osiris), Ruler of Eternity… Pa-Ser, Justified, his mother is the Kheneret –

Daughter of the Kheneret (female musician) of Amen-Re Meryt Justified"

Column farthest to left “The time (??) of the West”; other 6 columns read from left to right.

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Jacob Coley

Senior Vice President, Head of Department, Antiquities and Ancient Art

[email protected]312 280 1212

Mr. Coley joined the Antiquities department in 2021 after working as Managing Director in the Ancient Art department at Colnaghi, the world’s oldest commercial art gallery, where he helped to establish the Ancient Art department and launched Colnaghi New York in 2017. Prior to Colnaghi, Mr. Coley was in the Greek and Roman Art department at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Mr. Coley holds a B.A. from the University of Miami and an M.A. in Art Market from the Fashion Institute of Technology, and he earned an art-appraisal certificate from New York University.

Antiquities and Ancient Art

An Egyptian Painted Wood Round-Top Stele

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