An Egyptian Quartzite Fragment with Cartouche of Queen Nefertiti

New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, Amarna Period, Reign of Akhenaten, 1353-1335 B.C.

Width 6 1/4 inches (15.88 cm).

Property from the Estate of T.J. Burke, Wheaton, Illinois

Provenance:

Private Collection, England, Late 19th Century (based on mounting techniques). [Inv. no. 837]

Alice Tully (1902-1991), New York.

Ancient World Arts, Ltd., New York, prior to 1995.

Acquired by the present owner from the above, 23 March 1995.

This intriguing fragment features the cartouche of Queen Nefertiti, the illustrious consort of Akhenaten, whose reign marked a pivotal moment in ancient Egyptian history. The cartouche, inscribed with "Nefer-nefru-aten Nefertiti," is accompanied by hieroglyphs that translate to "Daughter of the King," suggesting the fragment may have originally belonged to a larger scene depicting members of the royal family.

While the provenance remains challenging to fully authenticate, it is suggested that the piece may have been excavated at Tel-el-Amarna during the pioneering excavations led by W. M. Flinders Petrie in the early 1890s. The connection to Lord Tyssen-Amherst, a notable figure in 20th-century Egyptian collecting, is also of interest, as his collection included fragments with the same cartouche referenced by F. Petrie in multiple publications (Tell-el-Amarna, 1984), and was sold in 1921 (Sotheby's, London, Catalogue of the Amherst Collection of Egyptian and Oriental Antiquities, 13-17 June 1921, Lot 182).