Egypt Museum

Wooden statuettes of Amenhotep and Rannai

This pair of statuettes are of the Theban priest Amenhotep and his wife Rannai, who was a Singer of Amun at the Theban Temple.
Made of precious black ebony wood (Egyptian: hbny), these figures stand 44 and 33 cm high, with glass inlay and gold trim. The couple both stand in the famous striding pose with one foot forward, depicted in traditional dress of the time.

Priest Amenhotep wears a protruding ritual apron known as the schenti and the priestly bald head. Rannai wears a fitted dress similar to the Old Kingdom style with thick straps covering the bust, and a golden usekh collar (necklace), with an elaborate wig (one side destroyed).
Rannai’s feet are adorned with sandals, however, Amenhotep’s feet are sadly missing.

Statuettes of Amenhotep and Rannai. New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, c. 1479–1425 B. C. From Sheikh Abd el-Qurna, Tomb TT 345. Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow, Russia. I.1.а 2103, 2099
Statuettes of Amenhotep and Rannai
(Material: Ebony, Gold Plating, Glass, Gypsum)
New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, c. 1479–1425 B. C.
From Sheikh Abd el-Qurna, Tomb TT 345
Now at the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow, Russia. I.1.а 2103, 2099

The statues were discovered within Tomb TT 345 at the Sheikh Abd el-Qurna Necropolis, a place for the Egyptian nobility of the time to be interned.
The inscriptions written upon the base of the statuettes tell us that the figures were commissioned by the son of Amenhotep and Rannai.

The 18th Dynasty Theban priest Amenhotep gazes forth into eternity in his priestly dress. A statue of his earthly likeness, which was gifted to him by his son.
The 18th Dynasty Theban priest Amenhotep gazes forth into eternity in his priestly dress. A statue of his earthly likeness, which was gifted to him by his son.
Rannai, singer of Amun, is still adorned in her gold jewellery as her inlaid glass eyes stare softly into eternity. The missing segment of her wig hardly noticeable, as what remains is of such great standards. Ebony (hbny) was an expensive treasure for the Egyptians, who usually had to import the finest of woods from other nations such as Lebanon.
Rannai, singer of Amun, is still adorned in her gold jewellery as her inlaid glass eyes stare softly into eternity. The missing segment of her wig hardly noticeable, as what remains is of such great standards. Ebony (hbny) was an expensive treasure for the Egyptians, who usually had to import the finest of woods from other nations such as Lebanon.

Did you know, the modern word”ebony”comes from the Ancient Egyptian word, “hbny”?

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