Seated limestone statue of Keki

This statue of a man called Keki, believed to be a courtier in Ancient Egypt’s Old Kingdom, is a wonderful example of Old Kingdom craftsmanship and fashion. The pencil moustache was seemingly popular among those elite and rich enough to have statues of such quality made of themselves, as the facial hair appears quite often, from kings to courtiers.

Close up of Keki. Department of Egyptian Antiquities of the Louvre. A 41

Keki sits with thick black brows, elongated with kohl liner that is also present upon his eyes, in a typical Egyptian fashion that lasted throughout the Dynastic age. He wears a wig which is parted in the middle and is cropped just above shoulder length. His limbs are clunky and big, his feet and toes also large in size, this proportion style was rather common for seated statues. Keki’s skin is pale, possibly yellowish and reddish paint remnants can be seen. He has one hand resting on his lap, and another grasping his fist, holding what appears to be a seal or something that is no longer present. He is shirtless, with painted brown nipples, and he wears a pleated white linen shendyt (kilt).