Antique Egyptian Handmade ~ Hand Engraved ~ Offering Tray Antique Original
Traditional
£89.00
Egyptian offering trays were left outside of tombs as offerings to the deceased, and were often found in Middle Egyptian tombs. They were made of fired Nile silt, and were often used for libation rituals. The tradition of these trays carried on through the ages and changed into different materials as they became available and this particular tray is from around the middle of the last century and was hand engraved using traditional ink methods.
It's quite heavy for it's size and so the metals used must have been of a particular quality, it looks so much more stunning in real life!
These trays sell for around £130 to £200 depending on when they become available for purchase.
An offering tray was discovered in a 4,000-year-old tomb in Luxor, Egypt, as part of a joint US-Egypt archaeological excavation. The tomb contained the remains of a family, and was the first Middle Kingdom tomb found in the area.
The tray was square-shaped and had relief representations of a bull's head, a loaf of bread, and other offerings.
The tray's shallow grooves, raised rim, and wide spout indicated that it was used for libation rituals.
The tray's basin shape represented a courtyard, where food, water, and wine were kept for offerings.
The discovery of the tray and other artifacts in the tomb helped historians understand burial practices and rituals in the region during the Middle Kingdom.
