Egyptian Faience Rosette, New Kingdom, ca. 1295 - 1190 BCE

Rosettes, such as this lovely example, have a long history in Egyptian decorative architecture and were popular at most palace sites. Constructed entirely of faience, the distinctive eight white petals depict a flowering daisy, that contrasts wonderfully against a pale grey background. Sometimes, a gold nail was inserted through the central hole to secure it to a palace wall, thus forming decorative borders and ornamental bands. Rosettes give us a vivid idea of Egyptian palace décor, and what it might have been like to walk those corridors more than three thousand years ago. This example parallels those found on the walls of Ramses III's the palace of Ramses III in Tell-el-Yahudiye. cf. F. Dunn Friedman (ed.), Gifts of the Nile. Ancient Egyptian Faience, (Providence 1998), pp.87 & 197, nos. 55-56. Medium: Faience Dimensions: Diameter: 1 15/16 inches (3.8 cm) Condition: Intact and in very good condition overall. Provenance: Private French collection, Paris and previously Donald Tait