Ancient Egyptian Old Kingdom Wooden Headrest - 2686 BC Alison Pearson collection, acquired 1950's - 60's.

Unsold See similar items $9,376.07 Buy It Now, $33.90 Shipping, 14-Day Returns, eBay Money Back Guarantee
Seller: artancientltd ✉️ (9,521) 0%, Location: Huntingdon, GB, Ships to: WORLDWIDE, Item: 201042446830 Ancient Egyptian Old Kingdom Wooden Headrest - 2686 BC.

 

A well preserved ancient Egyptian wooden headrest, dating to the Old Kingdom, 2686 - 2181 BC.

The form of the headrest is one of simple elegance; the wide, sloping base with a flat foot, the cylindrical neck subtly tapering with a rectangular joint at the top, fitting the bowed neck support or 'pillow'. The knotted, sinous wood exaggerates the form and imbues the piece with an almost monumental presence. 

Egyptian headrests maintained the same basic shape throughout their long history. They were often made of wood, like this example, but could also be made of stone. The use of a headrest not only ensured a relatively comfortable position while sleeping, but also enabled air to circulate around the head, an added advantage in the hot, dusty climate of Egypt. However, it is likely that the surviving examples were made primarily for use in the afterlife and were not intended for everyday use.

This fascinating piece would have been carefully placed close to the head of the mummy within the tomb, either on top of the coffin, or within it. The headrest was considered an integral part of the burial assemblage, and was regularly illustrated on sarcophagi. The deceased was regarded as a ‘sleeper’, expected to be woken by a spell in the Book of the Dead. Indeed, the lifting up of the head of the mummy at resurrection was associated with getting up after waking from a deep sleep.

Old Kingdom headrests are particularly rare and are seldom encountered on the art market. For a more common New Kingdom example that sold at Bonhams in 2005, please follow this link.

Height: 6  3/4 inches.

Condition: Very good. As shown, with wear synonymous with an ancient wooden artefact, unrestored.

Provenance:

Formerly in the collection of Alison Pearson, dispersed 1970's and subsequently part of a British private collection. Several inscriptions on the base, including an early 20th tag reading "[...] 20th Dynasty [sic]." 





Authenticity
All items are unconditionally guaranteed to be Authentic as described. For added security we offer a full money-back guarantee if a recognized authority disputes the authenticity of any object sold. We send paper invoices incorporating a signed certificate of authenticity and photograph of the item.
Shipping
We send all collectibles Registered, Signed-for and Insured. We do not aim to profit from shipping charges. As volume sellers with preferential rates, we are mostly able to ship at below commercially available prices.
For eBay customers
If you wish to leave us a note or have a special request for delivery, please do not use the "item notes" on the ebay checkout. Instead, please send your request via the contact seller link.
Combined shipping
In some cases we can combine multiple items into a single package to save you money. However, If you plan to purchase items over the course of a day or more you must delay payment and let us know after you have purchased the first item. Otherwise all items are sent following cleared payment.
Terms and conditions
No Sales Tax/VAT will be charged by ourselves. We are not responsible for customs delays/duties. As legitimate sellers, we abide by United Kingdom and European Union Export regulations. We do not mis-describe items on the customs form. Please note that in most countries, antiques and collectibles are eligible for minimal/zero charges on importation.

ArtAncient Limited is registered in England no. 06376708
Vat registration no: GB 948 9832 53.

Services & Partners:

(function(document, window, navigator) { var loc =(document.location), loc2 =loc.toString(), tempid='', myebayItemID='', chlen=0, ch; for (var i=0; i= '0' && ch= 11 && chlen
  • Original or Reproduction: Original

PicClick Insights - Ancient Egyptian Old Kingdom Wooden Headrest - 2686 BC PicClick Exclusive

  •  Popularity - 19 watchers, 0.0 new watchers per day, 1,149 days for sale on eBay. Super high amount watching. 0 sold, 1 available.
  •  Best Price -
  •  Seller - 9,521+ items sold. 0% negative feedback. Good seller with good positive feedback and good amount of ratings.

People Also Loved PicClick Exclusive