Ancient Egypt, New Kingdom to Late Dynastic Period, 18th to 31st Dynasty, ca. 1550 to 332 BCE. A set of finely preserved sculptor's tools, a petite wooden mallet and a copper chisel. The hand-carved mallet features a round-topped design with a smooth central band to create a uniform striking surface for the sculptor. The copper chisel is of slender form with a tapered handle end covered in green patina as well as an exposed metal surface for the chisel wedge on the opposite end. Mallets of this size typically served a votive purpose rather than as a strictly functional tool, so both tools here were perhaps offerings for a sculptor of high status or exceptional skill. Size (mallet): 3.61" L x 1.43" W (9.2 cm x 3.6 cm); (chisel): 3.15" L x 0.58" W (8 cm x 1.5 cm)

Exhibited at the Bulaq Museum, 1894; at the Drexel Museum, Philadelphia, 1895 to 1914, ref. nos. 16.515 and 16.528, respectfully; in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, 1915 to 1958; at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) from 1986 to 1991; in the University of Arizona Museum of Art, October 1993 to December 1993; and in the Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art (RAFFMA), California State University, San Bernardino from 1996 to 2023, reference number EL01.001.1996.

Published in Dr. Gerry D. Scott III. "Temple, Tomb and Dwelling: Egyptian Antiquities from the Harer Family Trust Collection." University of California Press, 1992, fig. 8, pp. 24-25.

For examples found at Deir el-Bahri, please see The British Museum, registration number 1904,1008.287; also "Egypt's Golden Age: The Art of Living in the New Kingdom 1558-1085 B.C." Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1982, p. 85, cat. no. 66.

Provenance: Collection of Dr. W. Benson Harer, Los Angeles, California, USA, purchased between 1974 and 1975 at Superior Galleries, Los Angeles, California, USA; Emile Brugsch (1842-1930) collection, curator of the Bulaq Museum, Cairo, Egypt; Exhibited at the Bulaq Museum, 1894; at the Drexel Museum, Philadelphia, 1895 to 1914, ref. nos. 16.515 and 16.528, respectfully; in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, 1915 to 1958; at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) from 1986 to 1991; in the University of Arizona Museum of Art, October 1993 to December 1993; and in the Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art (RAFFMA), California State University, San Bernardino from 1996 to 2023, reference number EL01.001.1996; Published in "Temple, Tomb, and Dwelling", fig. 8

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#178980

Chisel has old chips to tip as well as wear to both sides, and mallet has old chipping along one side as well as previous mounting putty residue, otherwise both artifacts are intact and excellent. Mallet with great surface smoothness, and both items with lovely patina. Old museum numbers handwritten on each piece.