Nefer of the Old Kingdom
Nefer was a man of important status in Ancient Egypt’s Old Kingdom period. The owner of Tomb G 2110 at Giza, Nefer clearly held enough societal importance to have a decorated tomb upon the Giza Plateau to enjoy eternity within.
Nefer’s titles vary, among some of which are,
“Strong-of-voice (of the judiciary), Chief of the Estate, Overseer of the Treasury, Overseer of the Arsenal, Overseer of the King’s Regalia, Estate Manager, Secretary of the King in all Places, Scribe of the Great House“, and “Overseer of Scribes of the Portfolios of the King“.
Such titles give us an insight into the close-knit ties Nefer had to the royal household and thus was seemingly very important in Ancient Egyptian society of the time, especially to the king himself.
Wall fragment now at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. 31.780
It is thought Nefer worked under the reigns of both Khufu and his son Khafre. And with the title, “Secretary of all the Secrets of the King” it appears Nefer was a trustworthy individual, worthy of the splendour of a Giza Plateau tomb.
“Overseer of all Royal Ornaments, Director of Crews of Recruits, Overseer of the Two Places of Provisions, Overseer of the House of Weapons, Great One of the Tens of Upper Egypt, Royal Acquaintance, Overseer of the Two treasuries”
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. 07.1002
Buried within the Western Cemetery of the Giza Plataeu, Nefer’s tomb (Tomb G 2110), was excavated by the American Egyptologist and archaeologist, George Andrew Reisner Jr. (November 5th, 1867 – June 6th, 1942). Resiner is also credited with the discovery of the Giza tomb of Queen Hetepheres I, the mother of King Khufu.
Reserve Heads
Reserve heads (also known as “Magical heads” or “Replacement heads”, the latter term derived from the original German term “Ersatzköpfe”) are distinctive sculptures made primarily of fine limestone that have been found in a number of non-royal tombs of the Fourth Dynasty of Egypt; primarily from the reigns of pyramid-building pharaohs Khufu to Khafre, circa 2551–2496 B.C.
While each of the heads share characteristics in common with each other (and some examples may be more caricature than reflecting a true-life appearance), the striking individuality of the pieces makes them some of the earliest examples of portrait sculpture in existence. Their purpose is not entirely clear; the name comes from the prevalent theory first put forward in 1903 by the German Egyptologist Ludwig Borchardt, that the head was to serve as an alternate home for the spirit of the dead owner should anything happen to its body
Giza, tomb G 2110. Pit G 2110 A
Summary:
Limestone “Reserve” portrait head of Nefer
Old Kingdom, 4th Dynasty, reign of Khufu-Khafre, c. 2551–2494 B.C.
Discovered within the shaft of Nefer’s Tomb. Giza, tomb G 2110. Pit G 2110 A
Now at the MFA, Boston. 06.1886
