A Limestone Relief Fragment, 19th Dynasty, reign of Ramesses II, 1279-1213 B.C.

carved in shallow relief with two ladies advancing to right, their right hands raised in reverence, the first holding a Hathor-headed sistrum, the second a bouquet of papyrus flowers, each wearing an elaborate layered and pleated garment tied beneath the breasts, broad collar, bracelets, tripartite wig composed of long zigzag locks twisted at the ends, and diadem, the first lady, taller than her companion, wearing an earplug, her wig surmounted by a lotus bouquet and an ointment cone, an inscription translating “her sister, the Chantress of Amun Na…” above the second lady; remains of polychrome.

Denys Sutton (1917-1991), London, acquired between 1957 and 1972
by descent to the present owner

Broken in many pieces and repaired as shown in the catalogue photo. There is a large area of fill across the top of the relief and smaller areas of fill exist elsewhere, such as the circular patch on the first lady's left forearm and the back of the head of the second lady. The other imperfections as shown, such as the missing area on the left arm of the second lady and her right hand. The face of the first lady seems to have been intentionally damaged in antiquity. As far as we can determine, no attempt has been made to restore or in-paint any of the extensive damage.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

For a related example compare L.M. Berman, Catalogue of Egyptian Art, The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1999, pp. 250-251, no. 180, the tomb relief of the Chief Physician Amenhotep and his family.

Denys Miller Sutton (1917-1991) assumed the role of editor of the London-based arts magazine Apollo in 1962, and retained this position for about 25 years, during which he considerably expanded the scope of the publication, addressing sensitive art preservation issues, attracting new contributors among prominent art historians and writers, writing many articles himself, and devoting several issues to the collections of museums around the world. His strong and unrelenting interest in the visual arts was a lifelong pursuit: he served as secretary of the international commission for the restitution of cultural material after World War II, worked as an art critic for Country Life and the Financial Times, authored several books on painting, including works on Watteau, Toulouse-Lautrec, Matisse, Picasso, and Whistler, and organized several exhibitions abroad such as shows on Constable and Titian in Tokyo. The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (vol. 53, Oxford, 2003, p. 382) describes him as an "astute collector of art."