AN EGYPTIAN POLYCHROME LIMESTONE ROUND-TOPPED STELE, 18TH DYNASTY, REIGN OF AMENHOTEP I/TUTHMOSIS II, CIRCA 1514-1479 B.C. | An Egyptian Polychrome Limestone Round-topped Stele

dedicated to the lady Nub-em-henuti by her husband, the sailor Maya, finely carved in shallow relief with Nub-em-henuti and Maya seated at left on lion-legged chairs, the wife clasping her husband's arm with her right hand, her left hand resting on his shoulder, and wearing a long close-fitting dress, broad collar, and lotus flower diadem, her husband holding a sash and lotus flower, and wearing a long skirt and broad collar, their son Huya offering a libation at right, and wearing a short kilt with central tab and braided side-lock, a sash in his left hand, a table laden with offerings before him, inscriptions and Eyes of Horus flanking a shen-sign above, four lines of inscription in sunk relief below.

said to be from the Abydos necropolis
Giovanni d'Athanasi (1798-1854), London (Leigh Sotheby, London, March 20th, 1837, lot 975: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=awxRAAAAcAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q=975&f=false)
Edward Roger Pratt (1789-1863), Rylston Hall, Norfolk, acquired at the above sale
English private collection, by descent (Sotheby's, New York, December 17th, 1998, no. 24, cover illus, without d’Athanasi provenance)
acquired by the present owner at the above sale

Malek, ed., Topographical Bibliography of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphic Texts, Statues, Reliefs and Paintings, vol. VIII, Oxford, 1999, no. 803-052-700 (http://www.griffith.ox.ac.uk/gri/8ste440.pdf).

As is. Note losses to pigment. Minor scratches and chips. Possible ancient fill above the figures. This fill would have been covered with pigments and therefore invisible.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The inscriptions on the top left translate: "Sailor of the [Fayum] lake Maya. His wife, mistress of the house Nub-em-henuti," and on the top right "His son Huya."

The inscriptions below the scene translate:"A royal offering of Osiris, ruler of eternity, the great god, lrd of Abydos, and Anubis in the front of the god's booth, he in the bandages, lord of the necropolis, giving an invocation offering of bread and beer, meat and fowl, linen and clothing, incense and oil, cool water, wine, milk and everything good and clean, for the ka of sailor Maya and mistress of the house Nub-em-henuti, justified."

Cf. Bosticco, Le Stele Egiziane, no. 18, for a related example, also compare Breitbart Collection, no. 12. Two other Egyptian steles acquired by Edward Roger Pratt at the Sotheby’s 1837 of the d’Athanasi Collection (lots 282 and 982) are now in the British Museum, inv. nos. 2001,1102.1 (http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=805373&partId=1&searchText=Pratt+stela&page=1) and 2007,1001.1 (http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=3028818&partId=1&searchText=Pratt+stela&page=1). Another stele (lot 578 in the 1837 auction) was sold alongside the present stele at Sotheby’s, New York, December 17th, 1998, no. 26, and is now in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, inv. no. AC1999.2.1: https://collections.lacma.org/node/188829.