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Funerary cone of Neferhotep and Amenhotep

Egyptian
New Kingdom, Dynasty 18–20
1550–1070 B.C.

Medium/Technique Pottery
Dimensions Length x diameter: 14.6 x 7.6 cm (5 3/4 x 3 in.)
Credit Line Hay Collection—Gift of C. Granville Way
Accession NumberRES.72.260
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsArchitectural elements

Catalogue Raisonné Davies & MacAdam 302
DescriptionFunerary cone fragment with end of cone element broken. Circular stamp impression on head with an undivided register, identifying owners: "Fourth Prophet of Amen, Neferhotep and his wife, Lady of the House Amenhotep." (Hm-ntr 4-nw n Imn Nfr-Htp MAa-xrw Hm.f Hmt nbt-pr Imn-Htp). Head chipped and somewhat eroded on left portion, including a small part of the text.

Funerary cones were components of a frieze, inserted above the doors of private tombs, particularly in the Theban region. They have been variously interpreted as: name-plates of sorts to identify the tomb owner, decorative memorials, boundary markers for a tomb, dummy bread loaves or meat offerings, symbolic roof beams, or (for the visible circular head) depictions of the sun disk.

For other examples of this tomb owner see: Res.72.261; Res.72.261; 72.1762; 72.1763.

Davies and Macadam, A Corpus of Inscribed Egyptian Funerary Cones (1957), type #302.
ProvenanceBy 1836: Robert Hay Collection, Linplum, Scotland; 1863: to his son, Robert James Alexander Hay; 1868-1872: Way Collection, Boston (purchased by Samuel A. Way through London dealers Rollin and Feuardent, 27 Haymarket); 1872: given to the MFA by Samuel's son, C. Granville Way.
(Accession Date: June 28, 1872)