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Scribe’s Palette and Reed Pens

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

MEDIUM Wood (Sycomore Fig, Ficus sycomorus), reed, ink
  • Reportedly From: Elephantine Island, Egypt
  • DATES ca. 525–343 B.C.E.
    DYNASTY Dynasty 27 to Dynasty 30
    PERIOD Late Period
    DIMENSIONS Palette: 1 1/16 × 3/4 × 5 1/8 in. (2.7 × 1.9 × 13 cm) Pens: 1/8 × 4 1/2 in. (0.3 × 11.5 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 16.99a-d
    CREDIT LINE Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour
    PROVENANCE Elephantine, Egypt; February 12, 1893, purchased in Aswan, Egypt from an unidentified vendor by Charles Edwin Wilbour; 1896, inherited from Charles Edwin Wilbour by Charlotte Beebe Wilbour; 1914, inherited from Charlotte Beebe Wilbour by Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour; 1916, gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour to the Brooklyn Museum.
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    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Small wooden scribe's palette inscribed in Aramaic, "Palette of Haya"(?). Two depressions for paint and two pens inside of case. Separate sliding cover. Condition: Paint depressions have considerable deposit. Edges slightly chipped.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Scribe’s Palette and Reed Pens, ca. 525–343 B.C.E. Wood (Sycomore Fig, Ficus sycomorus), reed, ink, Palette: 1 1/16 × 3/4 × 5 1/8 in. (2.7 × 1.9 × 13 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.99a-d. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 16.99a-d_PS9.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 16.99a-d_PS9.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2014
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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