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Meydum, Mastaba of Nefermaat and Atet (no. 16)

Notes on the decoration

Petrie 1892: 24-25: The characters and figures of the whole of this tomb, and of Atet's are incised in the stone, and filled up with coloured pastes, level with the surface; except for a few figures down the edge of Nefermat's chamber entrance, which are in relief. This system of colouring was a special device of Nefermaat's own (...). He particularly states that "He made his mastaba in his unspoilable writing." (for this translation see Osing 1994: 282-283)

The sculpture is all hollowed out, with edges undercut, so that the coloured pastes which is filled should key in.

Examples in the Petrie Museum

 


 

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