Egypt Museum

Hairdressing Scene

Hairdressing Scene
Middle Kingdom, 11th Dynasty, c. 2008–1957 B.C.
From Deir el-Medina, Thebes.
Now at the Brooklyn Museum. 51.231 & 54.49.

These limestone fragments were originally part of a scene in which royal hairdressers attended Queen Neferu. The relief on the right represents Neferu, referred to as “The King’s Wife,” wearing a magnificent beaded usekh collar. Behind her, Henut, the hairdresser, has already pinned one strand of hair and twisted another. The relief on the left represents Inu, a hairdresser, holding a triple lock of plaited hair that she will attach to Neferu’s coiffure.

Reconstruction of the hairdressing scene in the Tomb of Neferu.
Reconstruction of the hairdressing scene in the Tomb of Neferu.
Bronze hair curling tongs and trimmer, c. 1575-1194 B.C.
Bronze hair curling tongs and trimmer, c. 1575-1194 B.C.
Science Museum Group Collection.
New Kingdom bronze wig curler
New Kingdom bronze wig curler, with horse riding design.
British Museum. EA36314
Queen Neferu, "The King's Wife", having her hair tousled, by the hairdresser Henut. Part of a relief of a hairdressing scene.
Fragment relief of a hairdressing scene. Queen Neferu, “The King’s Wife”, having her hair tousled, by the hairdresser Henut.
The hairdresser Inu, holding a plaited lock of hair, waiting to be placed upon the hair and/or wig of Queen Neferu.
The hairdresser Inu, holding a plaited lock of hair, waiting to be placed upon the hair and/or wig of Queen Neferu.
Locks of plaited and straight dark hair, possibly from a wig or extensions.
Locks of plaited and straight dark hair, possibly from a wig or extensions. Like other burial goods purchased by Joseph Sams in the Theban area, these are most likely from the New Kingdom.
The Egyptian Museum catalogue describes it as “human hair from a mummy” (1852, p. 13, no. 130). Professor Newberry described it as a “mummified human head with hair plaited and plain” around 1910. In the 1928 Mayer Inventory, it was described as “Portions of Human Hair, plaited and plain”.
National Museum of Liverpool. M11139
Plaited hair extensions, wrapped in linen for funerary tribute. Brooklyn Museum.
Plaited hair extensions, wrapped in linen for funerary tribute. Brooklyn Museum.

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