Fragment of a Funerary Relief; Late Period (Dyn. XXVI); Unknown Provenance; Limestone, Inv. No. 22765
My faith in humanity was restored when I saw the inventory plate for this unusual artefact, as it has been wrongly attributed to the Old Kingdom period when I searched on the internet before my travels to the Vatican.
Tip: It’s always a good idea to do a Google search beforehand, just so you know of objects that should not be missed.
So the question I have is it real or fake 🤷🏽♂️ The technique used is incised relief, most notably found on the pylons of Karnak and Medinet Habu. It’s used on surfaces that get hit with direct sunlight, as high relief just washes away under the sun's midday rays.
I raise the question as the condition of the paint is too perfect to have had outside exposure. Could it have been repainted in recent times? I’m certainly no expert on Late Period relief but the face just doesn’t look right.
Interested to know your thoughts, especially any Late Period experts.
