Trial Piece with Two Heads
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
On View: Amarna Period, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor
Excavators of Amarna uncovered several sculptors’ studios containing large numbers of unfinished sculptures and reliefs. Among these were fine models carved by master sculptors as well as trial pieces by younger artisans. The block displayed here is a sculptor’s study, showing two male heads and a clenched fist, in varying degrees of completion.
This relief was discovered by Flinders Petrie at Amarna and subsequently belonged to Lord Amherst, who sponsored Petrie’s excavations.
This relief was discovered by Flinders Petrie at Amarna and subsequently belonged to Lord Amherst, who sponsored Petrie’s excavations.
MEDIUM
Limestone
DATES
ca. 1352–1336 B.C.E.
DYNASTY
late Dynasty 18
PERIOD
New Kingdom, Amarna Period
DIMENSIONS
9 3/8 × 9 5/16 × 2 1/2 in. (23.8 × 23.6 × 6.4 cm) (show scale)
COLLECTIONS
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
ACCESSION NUMBER
33.61
CREDIT LINE
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
PROVENANCE
Sculptor’s school, Tell el Amarna, Egypt; 1891-92, excavated by W. M. Flinders Petrie; circa 1892, transferred from W. M. Flinders Petrie to William Thyssen-Amherst of London, United Kingdom; June 13-17, 1921, purchased at Sotheby’s London, “The Amherst Collection of Egyptian and Oriental Antiquities”, lot 848, by Kalebdjian Frères of Cairo, Egypt and Paris, France; until at least 1928, collection of Kalebdjian Frères; between 1928 and 1933, provenance not yet documented; before 1933, acquired by Spink and Son, London, United Kingdom; 1933, purchased from Spink and Son by the Brooklyn Museum.
Provenance FAQ
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Limestone trial piece. On one large face, two incomplete incised male heads with wigs, the latter undecorated. Above the left hand, a clenched hand, profile view. The heads are more or less unfinished. The stone is wedge-shaped, tapering towards top.
Condition: Good. Lower right corner missing. Scattered chips.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is on view in Amarna Period, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor
CAPTION
Trial Piece with Two Heads, ca. 1352–1336 B.C.E. Limestone, 9 3/8 × 9 5/16 × 2 1/2 in. (23.8 × 23.6 × 6.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 33.61. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 33.61.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 33.61.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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