Amarna Princess

This small limestone statuette depicts a daughter of king Akhenaten and Nefertiti. She is depicted with a “side lock” of youth, protruding from a cap crown, seemingly made of layered beads. A “side lock” of youth is the modern term coined by Egyptologists to recognize this specific hairstyle, which was often worn by children or youths, or those younger within the family structure. The hairstyle consists of usually one segment of long hair plaited against an otherwise bald or shortly crop haired head.

Only the upper part of her body remains, the shoulders and just above the bust. Therefore traces of paint and carving show us the original piece had the princess adorned in fine pleated linens and an elaborate usekh collar. Her eyes are heavily lines, as are her brows. Her features are distinctive and make her recognizable as an Amarna period princess. Her lips are slightly downturned and her nose is a little up-turbed and snubbed. She is painted with reddish skin, leaving a peachy hue in its remnants. Black pigment remains upon her hair and cap.

Akhenaten and Nefertiti had 6 known daughters, one of which died young and whose death and funerary scenes are depicted upon the tomb wall in Amarna, her name was Meketaten (meaning “Behold the Aten” or “Protected by Aten”). The others were, Meritaten, Ankhesenamun (sister-wife of Tutankhamun and previously named Ankhesenpaaten), Neferneferuaten Tasherit, Neferneferuru and Setepenre.
This head is usually associated with Meriaten, but that is not certified.

The head was acquired by the Musée du Louvre in 1937 from Armenian-American archeologist Hagop Kevorkian, and is currently on display within Room 638, Sully Wing, Level 1.

Summary:
Painted limestone statuette of an Amarna princess, daughter of Akhenaten and Nefertiti
New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, c. 1351-1332 B.C.
Tel el-Amarna.
Musée du Louvre. E 14715