Sculpture

Seated Statues of Rahotep and Nofret

Seated Statues of Rahotep and Nofret

Prince Rahotep and his wife Nofret life-like painted limestone statues are considered among the most famous private statues from ancient Egypt. The statues were discovered in the mastaba tomb (a tomb in the form of a rectangular platform) of Rahotep, north of the pyramid of Snefru, in Meidum, dating to the reign of King Snefru...

Statue of King Thutmose IV and his mother Tiaa

Statue of Thutmose IV and his mother Tiaa

In this seated statue of King Thutmose IV, he and his mother Tiaa are embracing each other. His mother was a secondary wife of his father Amenhotep II. Hieroglyphs on both sides of the chair give the names and titles for King Thutmose IV and his mother Tiaa. She was “the Great Royal Wife and...

Statuette of King Khufu

Statuette of King Khufu

The Khufu Statuette or the ivory figurine of Khufu is an ancient Egyptian statue which is historically and archaeologically significant; it was found in 1903 by Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie during the excavation of Kom el-Sultan in Abydos. Despite the discovery of a few other small fragments of the king’s statues and statuettes, this...

detail of the face of scribe Metri

Statue of Metri as a Scribe

The statue depicts Metri, an overseer of the scribes during the 6th Dynasty, sitting in the traditional pose of scribes with his legs crossed. He spreads a roll of papyrus on his lap and holds it with his left hand. In his right hand he holds a pen. The body of the statue is painted...

Head and Upper Body of King Senusret II

Statue of Senusret II

The statue offers a naturalistic treatment of the eyes and mouth and is found in the sculptures of Nofret and in this unsubscribed bust attributed to King Senusret II. During the reign of Senusret II, the image of the king was transformed both textually and visually, with signs of age appearing that include a wrinkled...

Nykara and his Family

Statue of Nykara and his Family

This family statue depicts Nykara, whose title is Scribe of the Granary, seated between the two standing figures of his wife and son. If Nykara were shown standing, his dimensions are such that he would tower over the other two figures. Also, although the boy’s nakedness, sidelock of youth, and finger-to-mouth gesture indicate that he...

Statuette of a Cat

Statuette of a Cat

The statuette represents the traditional image of a seated cat, with its tail placed on the ground along the right side of the body. The eyes are inlaid with gold. One of the rock crystal pupils that once decorated the eyes has been lost. The skillful technique and delicate elaboration of the body contours and...

Thoth, God of Writing and Knowledge, as a Baboon

Statuette of Thoth as a baboon

In this faience statuette, Thoth, the God of Writing and Knowledge, represented as a baboon. Thoth, god of wisdom, learning, science, and medicine, was also a patron of art and scribes who recorded the judgment on the dead in the underworld. Often the god is depicted with the head of a sacred ibis bird and...

Ba Bird Statuette

Ba Bird Statuette

This ba bird statuette is perched on a rectangular base. The human head is covered by a blue tripartite striated wig with a red sun disc on top. A collar was painted on the chest between the front lappets of the wig. The feathers are painted red, the tail feathers blue. The typical leg feathers...

Statue of a Standing Lady

Statue of a Standing Lady

This limestone statue depicts a standing lady which she wearing a shoulder-length wig consisting of graceful tresses, and the white dress with shoulder straps of elite ladies covered by a broad collar. The straps of the dress and the broad collar were indicated in paint only, of which only traces remain. She is standing upright...