Relief fragment, tomb of Mereri
Unknown Artist
ca. 2100–2030 B.C.
Medium
Limestone
Dimensions
H. 14.5 × W. 34.5 × D. 5.4 cm (5 11/16 × 13 9/16 × 2 1/8 in.)
Classification
Relief fragment, tomb of Mereri
Period
First Intermediate Period
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Egypt Exploration Fund, 1898
Accession Number
98.4.3u
Art Historical Context
This delicate limestone relief fragment hails from the tomb of Mer, dating to Egypt's First Intermediate Period (ca. 2100–2030 B.C.), specifically Dynasty 9. Carved during a time of political fragmentation following the Old Kingdom's grandeur, such tomb decorations served vital funerary purposes, ensuring the deceased's eternal sustenance through depictions of offerings, daily life, or. Though incomplete, this 14.5 × 34.5 × 5.4 cm piece exemplifies the era's shift toward more provincial artistry, produced in regional workshops like those at Heracleopolis. Crafted in low-relief technique on du...