AN EGYPTIAN POLYCHROME LIMESTONE RELIEF FRAGMENT, 26TH DYNASTY, 664-525 B.C. | An Egyptian Polychrome Limestone Relief Fragment

finely carved in sunk relief in archaizing style with the head of a man facing right and wearing a broad collar, pendant, and close-fitting cap.

Münzen und Medaillen AG, Basel, Auktion 46, April 28th, 1972, no. 99, illus.
The Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, inv. no. 1972.16, acquired at the above sale (Christie's, New York, October 25th, 2016, no. 6, illus.)

"The Egypt Experience: Secrets of the Tomb," The Toledo Museum of Art, October 29th, 2010-January 8th, 2012

Otto Wittmann, ed., "Treasures for Toledo," in The Toledo Museum of Art News, vol. 19, 1976, p. 44, no. 2-3
Sandra Knudsen and P. Reich, Egypt in Toledo: The Ancient Egyptian Collection at the Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, 2011, p. 76

Repaired diagonally across the top. The clean breakline was recenty covered over with water-based pigment (for pre-restoration state see Christie's catalogue photo). Note various chips along rims of the ear, along outer edges of fragment, as well as chips and abrasions along the edge framing the profile and top of the head. Most of the raised inner edge along the back of the head is missing. The break is worn and may have been smoothed over. Multiple traces of criss-crossing rectilinear saw marks on the back. Saw marks along the edges as well. The number "72.16" (Toledo Museum of Art accession number) is inscribed in red paint on the upper right corner of the back. A large square metal plate with two keyholes for attachment is firmly glued to the back.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Based solely on stylistic criteria the 1972 Basel auction catalogue entry suggests that the present relief probably originates from the Theban tomb of Pediamenopet/Petamenophis (T33), a massive and fascinating funerary complex explored in the 19th Century, sealed by Gaston Maspéro in 1900, and reopened by Claude Traunecker in 2005 for further exploration and study (http://www.ifao.egnet.net/archeologie/tt33/). Later publications of the present relief have adopted this identification.

In 1908 Jean Capart acquired a closely related relief fragment for the Brussels Museums (inv. no. E. 3057) and securely identified it as Pediamenopet himself based on a pre-1879 drawing of it made while still in situ in his tomb (Bulletin des Musées royaux des art décoratifs et industriels, September 1908, pp. 77-78, fig. 9, and J.-C. Balty, H. De Meulenaere, et al., eds., Musées royaux d'art et d'histoire, Bruxelles. Antiquité, 1988, pp. 38-39). In 1912, another very similar example was bought by Philip J. Mosenthal from Dikran Kelekian in Paris in 1919, and sold at Anderson Art Galleries, New York, April 4th, 1925, no. 73; it is now in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, inv. no. 1977.217, where it is described as probably from the tomb of Pediamenopet: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/550756).