Egypt Museum

Nikare with wife Khuennub and daughter Khuennebti

This painted limestone statue of an Ancient Egyptian Old Kingdom family, dates from the 5th Dynasty, c. 2420-2389 B.C.
The statue depicts Nikare, the Official of the Granary, with his wife Khuennub knelt by his side, and their daughter Khuennebti standing beside her father.

Nikare with wife Khuennub and daughter Khuennebti
Nikare with wife Khuennub and daughter Khuennebti
H. 57 cm (22 7/16 in.); W. 22.5 cm (8 7/8 in.); D. 32.5 cm (12 13/16 in.)
Met Museum, New York. 52.19

Found in Saqqara, likely the Memphite region, the limestone statue still has remnants of its original painted form. Pigment of a yellowish tone can be seen on all three figures, as well as black upon Khuennub’s cropped wig. The faces of all three are delicately carved, their lined eyes, arched, browns and the intricate details of the wigs and caps all three wear show sublime craftsmanship. The daughter, Khunnebti, stands nude with a side lock of youth on the back of her head, while her mother sits rather relaxedly with feet under her backside protruding out from her dress. They are clearly of smaller stature, signifying Nikare’s status as an official, or likely due to him being the recipient of the funerary statue. The sizing signifying status was a part of the Egyptian cannon, and is not to be seen as a belittling of his wife and daughter’s role or importance in his life.

Khuennub, wife of Nikare and mother of Khuennebti, is depicted in traditional Old Kingdom style.
Khuennub, wife of Nikare and mother of Khuennebti, is depicted in traditional Old Kingdom style. She wears a short cut wig, with a soft rounded face with a slight smile.
Met Museum, New York. 52.19


Khuennub is depicted with her hand resting upon her thigh in an extremely relaxed pose.
Khuennub is depicted with her hand resting upon her thigh in an extremely relaxed pose. The way the artist chose to depict her legs at rest sparks the imagination. Was it a depiction he made based upon life, or some artistic decision? Her soft belly, with belly button and pubic mound shows a softness to the depiction of the mother figure of the family. Her wig band is finely detailed. To think how grand this sculpture is with just limestone and fragments of paint remaining, it must have been a mind-blowing piece to witness when it was freshly painted.

If you look closely at the detail of the carving, the detailing of the knee of Nikare, and the pleating of his shendyt (kilt) is comparable to sculptors of the highest of standards, yet this artist remains forever unknown, and is only known by his work.

The daughter Khuennebti stands with her hand upon her chest, and wears a cap, from which her side lock of youth protrudes through.

Khuennebti depicted miniature size by her father's knee.
Khuennebti depicted miniature size by her father’s knee.
Met Museum, New York. 52.19
Khuennebti can be seen with the "side lock of youth", a lengthy plaited pony-tail that would be on the crown of a youth
Khuennebti can be seen with the “side lock of youth”, a lengthy plaited pony-tail that would be on the crown of a youth, indicating their young age or youthful status within the family.
Met Museum, New York. 52.19

Summary:
Seated limestone family portrait of Nikare with wife Khuennub and daughter Khuennebti
Old Kingdom, 5th Dynasty, reign of Nyuserre Ini (?), c. 2420–2389 B.C.
Probably from Memphite Region, Saqqara.
Met Museum, New York. 52.19

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