Archaeological Museum of Bologna

Tablets like this, with a central groove for the quills (pointed reeds to write) and two cavities for the colors, were the typical equipment of the scribe. The bolognese sample belonged to an official lived at the time of Thutmose III, which engraved the names in hieroglyphics on the sides of the central groove.

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The palette found in a tomb of the necropolis of Saqqara, shows many traces of use, not only for residues of red and black around the two circular wells, but also for annotations in hieratic script, now barely legible, written as reminders on the wood.

Provenance: Saqqara, Palagi Collection (Nizzoli)
Datation: New Kingdom, 18th dynasty, reign of Thutmosis III (1482 - 1450 BC)
Material: wood
Dimensions: lenght cm 37
Inventory #: KS 3136