An Egyptian Greywacke Scribe Palette, Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 11- 12, ca. 2040 - 1786 BCE

Of rectangular form, the flat sides tapering to a smaller flat base, with a large rectangular depression at the center. Carved from dense greywacke, the palette was used to grind and prepare pigments such as carbon black and red ochre, mixed with a binding medium to produce ink for writing and painting. The visible wear within the recessed surface is consistent with repeated use and reflects its original function.

Stone palettes such as this formed an essential part of the scribal toolkit in ancient Egypt. By the Middle Kingdom, scribes occupied a central role in administration and record keeping, and their implements carried both practical and cultural significance. Earlier palettes of this period tend to be simple and utilitarian in design, prioritizing durability over elaboration, while still signaling literacy and professional status.

Writing itself was closely associated with authority and permanence, and scribal tools were sometimes included in tomb assemblages as markers of identity.

For a similar example see Janine Bourriau, 'Pharaohs and Mortals. Egyptian Art in the Middle Kingdom' (Cambridge, 1988), p.145, no.152.  Another example can be found in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (acquisition number 15.3.1131). 

Medium: Greywacke

Dimensions: 3.3 inches (8.5 centimeters) x 2.25 inches (5.7 centimeters) x 0.8 inches (2 centimeters)

Condition: Intact and in good condition overall with losses to the edges and surface, showing clear signs of use. A good example of the type.

Provenance: Private Swiss collection of Dr Ulrich Mueller, acquired between 1968 -1978.

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