493 - Egyptian Fragmentary Granite Head of a Pharaoh. The Peter Clayton Egyptian Collection (Lots 1-32 & 391-500)

Egyptian Fragmentary Granite Head of a Pharaoh. The Peter Clayton Egyptian Collection (Lots 1-32 & 391-500) Middle Kingdom, circa late 12th-13th Dynasty, circa 1860-1649 B.C. With a distinctive striated royal nemes headcloth, one large forward-facing ear preserved, and a largely absent face, the gathered 'tail' of the headdress hanging down at the back. 406 grams, 96 mm (3 3/4 in.). [No Reserve] Acquired March 1965. From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s. Accompanied by an old handwritten information card by Peter Clayton, collection no.110. Dark, hard stones were favoured for royal statuary in the late Middle Kingdom. The internal treatment of the forward-facing ears and the markings of the nemes are comparable to those of more complete royal heads from this period (cf. Bourriau, J., Pharaohs and Mortals. Egyptian art in the Middle Kingdom, Cambridge, 1988, p. 38, no. 32, for a portrait head of Amenemhat III). 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.