modern decorated Egyptian plaque
Date: circa 2016
Inventory Number: MUS-117-0018
Classification: Plaque
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Idfu,
City of Use:
Dimensions:
21.3 × 12 × 1 cm (8 3/8 × 4 3/4 × 3/8 in.)
Material:
Description:
The plaque is a modern color image in the ancient Egyptian style. It depicts two women who are clasping hands. The woman on the viewers left (Nefertari) wears a garment with a wider skirt and a feathered headdress. The woman on the viewers right (Isis) wears a checkered garment and a headdress that includes a sun disc and horns. She also wields a staff in her viewer’s right arm. The women are surrounded by hieroglyphics. It is a modern representation of an ancient tomb wall scene from Queen Nefertari's tomb. The plaque is likely made from either alabaster or white limestone.
In Collection(s)
Signedunsigned
Functiondecorative
Historical AttributesNefertari was the main wife of Pharaoh Ramses II and her tomb with its vivid wall paintings is one of the most beautiful tombs in Egypt. This stone plague depicts Nefertari (left) being led by the goddess Isis (right). Noteworthy is that Nefertati's husband, Ramses II, is absent in these scenes, indicated the queen's high status that allowed her to directly interact with the deities without him. Such depictions would not be possible for non-royal individuals.
Wilkinson, Charles K. "Queen Nefertari Being Led by Isis." metmuseum.org,
www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/557811
Queen Nefertari's importance can further be seen at Abu Simbel, now in Aswan. Here two temples stand. While the primary temple is dedicated to the sun gods Amon-Re and Re-Horakhte and features four large sculptures of Ramses II at its entrance, the smaller adjacent temple indicates the importance of Nefertari. This smaller temple, for the goddess Hathor is dedicated to Nefertari and features 35-foot-tall statues of Nefertari, alongside Ramses II.
Wilkinson, Charles K. "Queen Nefertari Being Led by Isis." metmuseum.org,
www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/557811
Queen Nefertari's importance can further be seen at Abu Simbel, now in Aswan. Here two temples stand. While the primary temple is dedicated to the sun gods Amon-Re and Re-Horakhte and features four large sculptures of Ramses II at its entrance, the smaller adjacent temple indicates the importance of Nefertari. This smaller temple, for the goddess Hathor is dedicated to Nefertari and features 35-foot-tall statues of Nefertari, alongside Ramses II.
Curatorial RemarksQueen Nefertari's tomb is also known as QV66, and is located within the Valley of the Queens on the west bank of the Nile River near Luxor. The valley is located next to the Valley of the Kings and the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, at Deir el Bahari. This plaque is a modern representation of one of the wall decorations that can be found in her tomb.
The number of people allowed access to Queen Nefertari's tomb per day is tightly controlled by the Egyptian authorities, to reduce the possible damage of human contributed humidity, carbon dioxide and other microbiological agents on the fragile wall paintings.
The number of people allowed access to Queen Nefertari's tomb per day is tightly controlled by the Egyptian authorities, to reduce the possible damage of human contributed humidity, carbon dioxide and other microbiological agents on the fragile wall paintings.
ProvenancePurchased by Katie Fiorina in January 2016 at the market stalls that exist along the gates outside of The Temple of Edfu in Edfu, Egypt.