Gipsen afgietsel van een tablet met hiërogliefen uit Wadi Maghareh of Sarabit al-Khadim before 1862

This is a plaster cast of a tablet with hieroglyphs, created by A.J. Brown, replicating an artifact from Wadi Maghareh or Sarabit al-Khadim. The image speaks to the surge of interest in Egyptology during the 19th century, and the ways in which ancient cultures were being documented and interpreted through the lens of European scholarship. The tablet itself, now reproduced, points to the cultural and religious practices of ancient Egypt, but its reproduction and circulation as a plaster cast reflect the institutional practices of archaeology and museum studies in Europe. This was a time when European powers were expanding their reach across the globe, often appropriating cultural artifacts under the guise of scientific inquiry. Understanding this image, therefore, requires us to consider both the original context of the hieroglyphs and the social conditions that led to its reproduction. Historical resources, such as excavation reports, museum archives, and travelogues, can provide valuable insights into the complex interplay between ancient cultures and modern institutions.