Copper Alloy Relief of a Nubian man

This intricately cut copper alloy relief, dated stylistically to the 25th–26th Dynasties (c. 760–526 B.C.), portrays a Nubian male in a loincloth, carrying a basket, with a monkey perched on his shoulder. Its flat back and low thickness (0.8 cm) suggest it was designed to be affixed to a flat surface, such as a wooden panel, wall, or piece of furniture.

The Musée du Louvre has the piece labelled as a “wall lamp” but is also described as an “applique”; a term referring to decorative elements attached to a surface. It was probably part of a decorative sconce or torch holder, where the figure and its monkey companion were mounted on a backplate attached to a wall, with a light source held above or alongside it. The cut-out nature of the relief would allow for mounting while maintaining a decorative silhouette, and the Nubian figure and monkey (perhaps referencing exotic trade or symbolic themes) would add an element of storytelling or status to the household or temple space it adorned.

The Louvre’s records suggest this piece was likely found in the Khartoum region, the modern capital of Sudan, located at the confluence of the Blue and White Nile. While the precise find spot is not detailed in the acquisition record, the region surrounding Khartoum was once part of the powerful Kingdom of Kush, particularly during the Napatan period (c. 800–300 B.C.), which coincided with Egypt’s 25th and 26th Dynasties.

Given the dating of this piece to the 25th–26th Dynasties, it’s likely that it was produced either by Ancient Egyptian artisans operating in Kushite-controlled territories or by Kushite craftsmen influenced by Ancient Egyptian artistic traditions.

The Kingdom of Kush was known for adopting and adapting Ancient Egyptian motifs and techniques, particularly during the 25th Dynasty, when Kushite pharaohs ruled over Ancient Egypt itself. The use of copper alloy and the depiction of a Nubian figure with a monkey (potentially a reference to trade, wealth, or exoticism) suggest a fusion of Ancient Egyptian stylistic elements with local cultural themes.

Khartoum and its surrounding region during this period was a thriving centre of trade and power, serving as a northern gateway to the heartlands of Nubia. A decorative “applique” of this quality, perhaps part of a wall sconce or ceremonial fixture, could have adorned the walls of a Kushite noble’s residence, a temple dedicated to local deities or Egyptian gods, or even a public reception hall used for trade or diplomatic gatherings.

Khartoum

Khartoum, the capital of modern Sudan, sits at the confluence of the Blue Nile and White Nile, a strategic location that has been a vital nexus of trade and cultural interaction for millennia. Though, the city as we know it did not exist in antiquity. The name Khartoum itself is of Arabic origin, dating to the Islamic period, likely derived from the Arabic word “khurṭūm,” meaning “elephant’s trunk,” describing the shape of the land between the two Niles.

In ancient times, the broader region around Khartoum was inhabited by Neolithic cultures as early as c. 5000 B.C.
The region would later become a part of the Kushite territory during the height of the Kingdom’s power, serving as a cultural and trade nexus linking Egypt, Nubia, and sub-Saharan Africa. The Kingdom of Kushs’ major cities included: Kerma (further north along the Nile), Napata (near Jebel Barkal, further upstream), Meroë (south of modern Khartoum).