Reconstruction of a Cavetto Cornice
New Kingdom
This is a reconstruction of a small section of cavetto cornice, an architectural feature usually found above temple doors and around the upper edges of shrines. A large section of the original cornice was found lying on the floor in storage rooms at the southwest corner of the Temple of Amun at the site of Malqata during the Museum's excavations in 1917. The original was made of faience tiles and gilded plaster attached to wood that was badly decayed and could not be preserved. In this small reconstruction, the ancient faience tiles have been set into modern plaster that is painted to imitate the gold leaf used on the original.
For other examples of tile decoration found at Malqata, see a reconstructed panel of geometric patterns, and a cartouche enclosing the throne name of Amenhotep III, Nebmaatre, who built the temple as part of a festival city that was used to celebrate his three rejuvination festivals.
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