Description:

Egypt, Middle Kingdom, ca. 2050 to 1640 BCE. A white, hand carved limestone figure of a standing woman wearing a high-necked shift dress that falls to her ankles and a large wig of straight hair. Size: 2.6" W x 11.5" H (6.6 cm x 29.2 cm)

She stands facing forward on a small square plinth. Her torso and head are well proportioned and graceful, but her feet, arms, and hands in particular are too large for her body. Middle Kingdom sculpture often emphasized hands and feet; when originally painted, this statue probably had fingernails and toenails. During the Middle Kingdom, we see statues of women who are portrayed very similarly to this one - small breasts and the symmetrical face with the large wig, all beauty standards of the time - and we have intepreted those as being commissioned by wealthy, private women patrons who commissioned flattering portraits of themselves.

This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) and has been found to be ancient, and will be accompanied by a report confirming its age. A figure very similar in body shape but made of wood is on display at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore.

Provenance: Ex-Private FL collection

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#117514

  • Condition: Repaired just above knees, with signs of wear and pitting to stone over most of the surface. .

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January 18, 2017 7:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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