463 - Egyptian Painted Limestone Fragment from the Tomb of Pharaoh Seti I. The Peter Clayton Egyptian Collection (Lots 1-32 & 391-500)

Egyptian Painted Limestone Fragment from the Tomb of Pharaoh Seti I. The Peter Clayton Egyptian Collection (Lots 1-32 & 391-500) New Kingdom, 19th Dynasty, 1290-1279 B.C. Colourful, almost rectangular section of a wall fragment, with a slightly dished face, low-relief moulding with pigment, and 'Belzonis T[om]b' written at the top; accompanied by an old collector's label suggesting the likely findspot and other details. 15.3 grams, 44 mm (1 3/4 in.). [No Reserve] With a late 19th-early 20th century handwritten ticket attached. From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s. The Italian explorer and antiquarian Giovanni Battista Belzoni uncovered the tomb of Seti I (KV 17) on October 16, 1817. This monumental tomb, with beautifully decorated walls, extended almost 140 metres underground through a series of descending corridors and chambers. In 1821, Belzoni opened a groundbreaking exhibition at the Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly, London, presenting a full-scale replica of the tomb. The paid public exhibition sparked massive 19th-century Egyptomania and introduced European audiences to ancient Egyptian art. Such was the renown of his discovery that it was often referred to as 'Belzoni's Tomb'. TimeLine Auctions follows a rigorous vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists. See our website for more information.