Lid of canopic jar

The vase of terracotta was painted with a white layer, probably in imitation of the finest alabaster. The lid in form of the human face represents the protector genius Imset: the facial features are made with care and with a naturalistic sense, especially the eyes and the eyebrows painted in black. The head is covered by the nemes which extends down to the edge of the lid, outlining a soft line. The object was found during the excavations in the theban necropolis of Drah Abu el Naggah by the franciscan archaeological mission and then donated to Antonio Seletti by the franciscan missionary Attanasio in 1898.