The boy Ptahneferti

This painted limestone statuette of Ptahneferti (ptHnfrtj) as a boy, was discovered in Giza, Tomb G 2009. Dating from the Old Kingdom’s 5th Dynasty, c. 2465–2323 B.C., stands at 18 cm tall.
In Ancient Egypt, children were often represented nude or partially dressed, with one long braided plait falling from the side of their head and cascading upon their shoulder. Noticeably among depictions of Egyptian children, both royal and non-royal class, would be the finger to the mouth pose, which could be representing the pondering mind of youth as well as the soothing childlike behaviour of suckling one’s thumb or fingers.

This statue is rather interesting as it depicts Ptahneferti as a boy, yet it thought by scholars that Ptahneferti was older than childhood age at the time of death, as upon the base besides the inscription of his name is also the title of “craftsman”.

The statue is from Giza, Tomb G 2009. And was excavated by the Harvard University, Museum of Fine Arts Expedition in 1906. It was assigned to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston by the Egyptian government in November of 1906.