Horse Cloth and Chariot Fittings, Tomb of Qenamun

Art Historical Context

This exquisite tempera facsimile captures chariot fittings and an elaborately decorated horse cloth from the tomb of Qenamun, a high-ranking official who served during Egypt’s New Kingdom, Dynasty 18 (ca. 1427–1400 B.C.). Created at full scale by artist Norman de Garis Davies, the painting preserves the vivid colors and intricate details of the original wall decoration, offering modern viewers a direct connection to the funerary art that once adorned Qenamun’s burial chamber. Davies was renowned for his meticulous copies of Egyptian tomb paintings, and this work exemplifies the careful technique used to document fragile monuments before widespread photography. Rendered in tempera on paper, the facsimile highlights the symbolic importance of chariots and fine textiles in New Kingdom elite culture, where such items signified status and were included in tombs to serve the deceased in the afterlife. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum’s Department of Egyptian Art since its acquisition in 1930, the piece allows visitors to appreciate both ancient craftsmanship and the scholarly efforts that have preserved it for study and enjoyment today.

About the Artist

Norman de Garis Davies · 1865–1941

Norman de Garis Davies (1865–1941) was a British Egyptologist and archaeological artist whose meticulous copies of ancient Egyptian tomb paintings constitute one of the most important records of pharaonic art ever made. Born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, he originally trained for the ministry before being drawn into Egyptology through his involvement with the Egypt Exploration Fund in the 1890...