Trial Piece with Two Heads

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.