The ancient painted textiles have become extremely rare because of their fragility. An Egyptian funerary piece 29 x 21 cm in very nice condition is for sale by PIASA in Paris on June 18, lot 270. Here is the link to the press release.
This piece dates from the eighteenth dynasty which marks the peak of the Theban civilization and of ancient Egyptian art, 3400-3300 years ago. It is made of linen, the material commonly used for strips and shrouds. These small painted linens were placed over the cloth enveloping the sarcophagus.
The image shows the deceased laying his hand on a table of offerings for his pleasure in afterlife. He is carefully dressed and topped, with a long pleated kilt and a cone of ointments. He is sitting in an Egyptian profile on a luxury chair with legs of animals.
The offerings are drawn with precision: bread, meat and marrows. The hieroglyphic text indicates that these foods are all good and pure for the deceased whose name is indicated.
This is not a royal piece. Similar painted textiles were found in the tombs of the artisans of the village of Set Maat her imenty Waset, whose Arabic name will be Deir el-Medina, where they realized the works of art required for the tombs of the Valley of the Kings and the monumental temples. No other possible origin is considered.
This piece dates from the eighteenth dynasty which marks the peak of the Theban civilization and of ancient Egyptian art, 3400-3300 years ago. It is made of linen, the material commonly used for strips and shrouds. These small painted linens were placed over the cloth enveloping the sarcophagus.
The image shows the deceased laying his hand on a table of offerings for his pleasure in afterlife. He is carefully dressed and topped, with a long pleated kilt and a cone of ointments. He is sitting in an Egyptian profile on a luxury chair with legs of animals.
The offerings are drawn with precision: bread, meat and marrows. The hieroglyphic text indicates that these foods are all good and pure for the deceased whose name is indicated.
This is not a royal piece. Similar painted textiles were found in the tombs of the artisans of the village of Set Maat her imenty Waset, whose Arabic name will be Deir el-Medina, where they realized the works of art required for the tombs of the Valley of the Kings and the monumental temples. No other possible origin is considered.
Le carré de lin de Ta-nedjem : découverte majeure pour l’antiquité égyptienne http://t.co/wFzNzOUniU #piasa_auction pic.twitter.com/nyU76VjXsB
— PIASA (@Piasa_auction) May 8, 2015
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