Palette – zoomorphic PAL-0582
By Droux, Xavier
Archaeological site unknown.
1910 : Acquisition by the Museum.New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 10.176.84.
Date : Naqada IIA–D (?)
Dated by comparison with PAL-0021, but whether these two objects are contemporaneous is uncertain.
Material : Greywacke
Preservation : Complete
Preservation information :
Tiny chip at the extremity of one leg.
Description
The palette has an elongated shape with added stylised zoomorphic details. The antelope is shown standing, with its head and neck projecting toward the front, but not raised above the level of the back. A small hole is drilled through the back, likely for attaching a string or thong.
Decoration
The horns seem to only have been carved as two small protuberances together with two similar ones that likely represent the ears. In the absence of characteristic horn shapes, it is impossible to determine which antelope species was intended. The eyes are not represented, contrary to the mouth, which is indicated by a small incision at the tip of the muzzle.
There is a marked, rounded hump on the back, just before the junction with the rather long neck. The legs appear as two small protuberances without much detail. Two series of parallel incisions along the palette's edge indicate hair: one on the hump represent a neck mane; the other on the rump perhaps indicates the tail.
Dimensions (cm)
3.9
11