Sealing, from letter 22.3.518 from Heqanakht to Rahotep

Unknown

ca. 1961–1917 B.C. · Mud, fiber · Egyptian Art

Discovered attached to a letter from Heqanakht to the Overseer of the Delta, Herunefer (see 22.3.518), this lump of mud is an example of a sealing. When a document was ready, it was folded or rolled and wrapped with a string. A small lump of mud was placed over the ends of the string and impressed with the incised underside of a seal, such as a scarab. This served to identify the owner or writer of the document.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1961–1917 B.C.

Medium

Mud, fiber

Department

Egyptian Art

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1925