Bowl Sherd

1973.1.698b

Information

Four fragments mended to form the rim and part of the base of a shallow bowl of fine light brown pottery painted with a red and black border line at the top and bottom. Representation of a black and red horse on a lead with both front legs raised, as if leaping forward. On the right side there is part of an ankh sign with floral (?) decoration. Collected by Rev. William Frankland Hood on one of his visits to Egypt between 1851 - 1861. Wellcome Historical Medical Museum accession no.30900: "Two small fragments of buff pottery, from a shallow dish, decorated in red and black with a design of galloping horses, a floriated ankh, etc; ?Meroitic"; Purchased at Sotheby's, London, 11 November 1924 (Hood collection), Lot 52: "Two small Fragments of buff Pottery, from a shallow dish, decorated in red and black with a design of galloping horses, a floriated ankh, etc; ?Meroitic". There are three comparable sherds in the Louvre Museum that appear to be from the very same vessel (E12968A-C) which were excavated at Deir el Medina tomb 1095 (Bruyere). In error the Liverpool sherds have been published as being from Meroe, Sudan, by László Török (Meroe City An Ancient African Capital: John Garstang’s Excavations in the Sudan. Part One: Text (London, 1997) pp. 139, 287.