Funerary Cone of the Royal Cup-Bearer Senemnetjer (?)

Art Historical Context

This small pottery funerary cone, dating to Egypt's New Kingdom (ca 1550–1295 B.C.) during Dynasty 18, offers a glimpse into ancient Egyptian about the afterlife. Funerary cones like this one were mass-produced from Nile silt clay and placed in rows above tomb entrances or in exterior niches. Inscribed with the deceased's and titles in hieroglyph—here, possibly that of the Royal Cup-Bearer Senemjer—they symbolically invited passersby to offer food and drink to the ka, the spirit of the tomb owner, ensuring eternal nourishment. Measuring just 3.5 cm long and 9.5 cm in diameter, the cone's simple, tapered shape mimics a loaf of bread, evoking abundance. The incised hieroglyphs, a hallmark of New Kingdom tomb goods, highlight the owner's status in the royal court; as cup-bearer, Senemnetjer (?) served pharaohs like those of the Thutmoside or Amenhotep dynasties, a role blending intimacy and prestige. These artifacts, often found in elite Theban tombs, underscore the era's elaborate preparations for immortality amid Egypt's imperial height. A gift to the Metropolitan Museum of Art from Egyptologist Norman de Garis Davies in 1930, this cone preserves a personal echo of ancient rituals, reminding us how everyday objects carried profound spiritual weight.