Egyptian Greywacke Animal Palette Collection

Naqada I-Early Naqada III, c.3800-3100 BC. A group of three stone palettes for grinding pigment, such as galena or malachite, comprising: an undecorated rhomboidal Petrie Type 92F palette; a zoomorphic palette in the shape of a ram with carved detailing to head and horns, a drilled hole to the centre of the back; a zoomorphic palette, possibly a bird, with curved neck. See Petrie, W. M. F., Naqada and Ballas, London, 1896; Petrie, W. M. F., Corpus of Prehistoric Pottery and Palettes, London, 1921; Stevenson, A., Palettes in Wendrich, W. (ed.), UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology, Los Angeles, 2009. Believed to have been published by the Ratt Museum, Geneva, 1970-1972(?"). 1.8 kg total, 18-32.5cm (7 - 12 3/4"). From an important London W1, gallery; previously in a Swiss private collection, before 1980; accompanied by an academic report by Dr Alberto Maria Pollastrini; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no.10843-177401. Although Predynastic palettes played a role in the production of eye paint, they may have acquired ritualistic or magical connotations over time, due to their connection with the burial customs (Stevenson, 2009, 1-2"). They are the most common artefact to be found in Predynastic burials and many of them are housed in various museums. [3]
Condition Report: Fine condition.