25 Wooden headrest
Ficus sycomorus
Egypt
Old Kingdom (2707-2170 BC)
Compare the forms of the next three headrests; they are all of the so-called ‘Block-type’ headrest, carved from, and remaining, a solid block of wood. The mark on the front of the headrest is a dead knot in the wood. There is a single line of inscribed hieroglyphs on the front and back, which show an offering formula, and contain traces of Egyptian blue. The headrest leans slightly towards the head of the user. It is possible that the hieroglyphs were added to a previously used headrest at the time of the burial.
Bequeathed by R.G. Gayer-Anderson
The Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge, E.GA.295.1949