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Scribe's Palette

Middle Kingdom–Second Intermediate Period
ca. 2030–1550 BC
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 109
Ancient Egyptian scribes used wooden palettes, like this one, to hold their ink and brushes. There are still substantial remnants of the black ink on this palette, but the red is almost gone. The brushes are reeds with one end frayed to hold the ink.
The design of scribal palettes changed little over time as may be seen by comparing this one, from the Middle Kingdom to another, 47.123a–g, which dates to the New Kingdom.

Link to a blog about scribes in Ancient Egypt
Showing Signs: Hieroglyphs and Palettes in the Stela of Irtisen

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Scribe's Palette
  • Period: Middle Kingdom–Second Intermediate Period
  • Dynasty: Dynasty 12–17
  • Date: ca. 2030–1550 BC
  • Geography: From Egypt
  • Medium: Wood, pigment
  • Dimensions: L. 34.6 cm (13 5/8 in.); W. 4.3 cm (1 11/16 in.); H. 1.7 cm (11/16 in.)
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1910
  • Object Number: 10.176.62
  • Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

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Palette inscribed for Smendes (II), High Priest of Amun, Wood, ink, reed
Palette inscribed for Smendes (II), High Priest of Amun
ca. 1045–992 B.C.
Statuette of a canid-headed god, probably Anubis, Plastered and painted wood
Statuette of a canid-headed god, probably Anubis
332–30 BCE
Coffin of Ameny, wood, paint
Coffin of Ameny
ca. 1981–1802 B.C.
Coffin of Khnumnakht, Wood, paint
Coffin of Khnumnakht
ca. 1850–1750 B.C.
Statuette of Kary carrying a standard of Horus, Wood
Statuette of Kary carrying a standard of Horus
ca. 1304–1237 BCE

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