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Trial Piece with Two Heads

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: Amarna Period, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor
Excavators of Amarna uncovered several sculptors’ studios containing large numbers of unfinished sculptures and reliefs. Among these were fine models carved by master sculptors as well as trial pieces by younger artisans. The block displayed here is a sculptor’s study, showing two male heads and a clenched fist, in varying degrees of completion.

This relief was discovered by Flinders Petrie at Amarna and subsequently belonged to Lord Amherst, who sponsored Petrie’s excavations.
MEDIUM Limestone
  • Place Excavated: Tell el-Amarna, Egypt
  • DATES ca. 1352–1336 B.C.E.
    DYNASTY late Dynasty 18
    PERIOD New Kingdom, Amarna Period
    DIMENSIONS 9 3/8 × 9 5/16 × 2 1/2 in. (23.8 × 23.6 × 6.4 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 33.61
    CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
    PROVENANCE Sculptor’s school, Tell el Amarna, Egypt; 1891-92, excavated by W. M. Flinders Petrie; circa 1892, transferred from W. M. Flinders Petrie to William Thyssen-Amherst of London, United Kingdom; June 13-17, 1921, purchased at Sotheby’s London, “The Amherst Collection of Egyptian and Oriental Antiquities”, lot 848, by Kalebdjian Frères of Cairo, Egypt and Paris, France; until at least 1928, collection of Kalebdjian Frères; between 1928 and 1933, provenance not yet documented; before 1933, acquired by Spink and Son, London, United Kingdom; 1933, purchased from Spink and Son by the Brooklyn Museum.
    Provenance FAQ
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Limestone trial piece. On one large face, two incomplete incised male heads with wigs, the latter undecorated. Above the left hand, a clenched hand, profile view. The heads are more or less unfinished. The stone is wedge-shaped, tapering towards top. Condition: Good. Lower right corner missing. Scattered chips.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Amarna Period, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor
    CAPTION Trial Piece with Two Heads, ca. 1352–1336 B.C.E. Limestone, 9 3/8 × 9 5/16 × 2 1/2 in. (23.8 × 23.6 × 6.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 33.61. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 33.61.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 33.61.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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