Funerary Cone of Userhat, Overseer of the Cattle of Amun

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Funerary Cone of Userhat, Overseer of the Cattle of Amun

Artist Unidentified

Period New Kingdom Period (Ancient Egyptian, 1550–1070 BCE)

Dynasty Dynasty 18 (Ancient Egyptian, 1550–1295 BCE)

Place of OriginEgypt, Luxor (ancient Thebes), Tomb of Userhat (TT 150)

Date18th Dynasty (1550-1292 BCE)

Dimensions8 1/4 in. (21 cm)

Mediumterracotta

ClassificationUtilitarian Objects

Credit LineGift of Arthur F. Bissell

Object number

1911.20

Not on View

DescriptionA solid, tapered cone of fired clay formed by hand and stamped on the broad circular face. The face bears a relief inscription (jmj-rA jHw n jmn wsr-HAt) arranged in vertical columns within a circular border. The body of the cone is roughly modeled, exhibiting surface irregularities, warping, and distinct finger impressions from the manufacturing process. A red slip covers the inscribed face, though it is worn in high relief areas. The text identifies the owner as Userhat, whose primary title was "Overseer of the Cattle of Amun."

Label TextThis funerary cone is one of 95 similar objects found near the former entrance to the tomb TT 150 at the necropolis of Dra' Abu el-Naga' near Thebes (present-day Luxor). The tomb belonged to Userhat, an Overseer of the Cattle of Amun. The round, flat end of the cone is impressed with hieroglyphs identifying Userhat by his name and title. Funerary cones were architectural elements used as decoration on the mud-brick facades of private tombs in Thebes during the New Kingdom. Set into the upper edge of the tomb's exterior wall, these cones displayed inscriptions facing outward, serving both a decorative and commemorative function.Published ReferencesGauthier, Henri, “Rapport sur une campagne de fouilles à Drah abou’l Neggah, en 1906 [avec 13 planches],” Bulletin de l’Institut Français d’Archéologie Orientale, vol. 6, 1908, pp. 131-132.

Davies, Norman de Garis and M.F.L. Macadam, A Corpus of Inscribed Egyptian Funerary Cones, Oxford, Griffith Institute, 1957, no. 255 and no. 256.

Exhibition History

Toledo Museum of Art, The Egypt Experience: Secrets of the Tomb, October 29, 2010-January 8, 2012.