Writing board

Unknown

ca. 2030–1981 B.C. · Sycomore wood, ebony, gesso, paint · Egyptian Art

Discovered crushed and warped under a pile of stones at the entrance to a tomb at Deir el-Bahri, this writing board retains only a few traces of the fine, polished gesso that once covered its rough surface. It was set in ancient times into a frame of ebony, one end of which was missing and has been restored by The Museum. Ink found in the cracks of the plaster indicates that the board had been written on, but it had been cleaned thoroughly before being placed in the tomb.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 2030–1981 B.C.

Medium

Sycomore wood, ebony, gesso, paint

Department

Egyptian Art

Credit line

Rogers Fund and Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1926