Foundation deposit vessel. Ancient Egypt. New Empire, reign of Ramses III, ca. 1184-1153 BC.

Foundation deposit vessel. Ancient Egypt. New Empire, Reign of Ramses III, ca.1184-1153 BC.
Fayenza.
Provenance: Private collection, Madrid, Spain. Acquired in the Spanish art market in 2006.
Good general state of preservation. Presents cracks.
Measurements: 6 cm. height; 3,5 cm. diameter.

Representative specimen of the foundation deposit vessels used in the construction rituals of Ancient Egypt, directly linked to the consecration of temples and sacred buildings. These pieces were buried in strategic points of the foundations as symbolic offerings to ensure divine protection, the stability of the building and its durability over time.

The vase is made of faience, a material of great symbolic significance due to its characteristic glaze in bluish tones, associated with the Nile, fertility and regeneration. The surface retains a homogeneous patina with nuances that show its age, providing visual depth and authenticity to the piece.

There are remains of a hieroglyphic inscription in black ink, applied before firing, probably alluding to the pharaoh Ramses III. These inscriptions had a double function: to identify the foundational context and to act as a protective formula, linking the building to the royal power and the cosmic order guaranteed by the sovereign.