Egyptian libation tray with hieroglyphs

Egyptian libation tray with hieroglyphs
ITEM: Libation tray with hieroglyphs
MATERIAL: Pottery
CULTURE: Egyptian
PERIOD: Ptolemaic period, 3rd - 1st Century B.C
DIMENSIONS: 90 mm x 340 mm x 190 mm
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex English private collection, acquired late 20th Century.

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export Licence. If you are from outside the European Union, we will have to apply for the export licence again for your country, this takes 3 to 5 weeks and has a cost of 5% of the hammer price, this amount will be added to the final invoice.

Libation trays were an important part of ancient Egyptian ritual practices, particularly in offerings to deities, spirits of the deceased, and during temple ceremonies. These trays, often made of pottery, stone, or metal, were used to present liquid offerings like water, milk, wine, or beer, as well as solid offerings such as bread, fruits, or other symbolic items. The act of pouring or placing offerings on these trays was believed to nourish the gods or the spirits of the dead, ensuring their favor and continued protection for the living. Libation was a common feature in both daily life and more formal religious contexts, particularly in funerary practices where it was essential to sustain the deceased in the afterlife.

The design of libation trays varied, but many of them featured depressions, channels, or small basins to guide the liquid offerings as they were poured out. Some trays also had carved or painted representations of offering scenes, including symbols like the ankh (the symbol of life) or the djed pillar (symbolizing stability), which had protective and sacred connotations. In funerary contexts, these trays were often placed in tombs, where they served as permanent fixtures for offering rituals that could be performed by the living or invoked through prayers. The designs could be simple or elaborate, depending on the wealth and status of the individual.

In pottery, libation trays were particularly common among everyday Egyptians who may not have had access to expensive stone or metal objects. Pottery trays were easily made and could be personalized with symbols or inscriptions that reflected the owner’s religious beliefs or needs. These trays were often included as part of tomb equipment to ensure the deceased had a continuous flow of offerings in the afterlife.

Measurement:	34 x 9 cm
Depth:	19 cm