Egyptian statue of a striding male figure, Middle Kingdom, 12th Dynasty, c.1985-1795 BC
Wood
Height: 55.5cm
10992 EL
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The elegant male figure is carved from a single piece of wood; he strides with left leg forward and is wearing a pleated kilt, also known as a shendyt, with...
The elegant male figure is carved from a single piece of wood; he strides with left leg forward and is wearing a pleated kilt, also known as a shendyt, with a broad belt. His finely carved, short wig of echeloned rectangular curls is painted black and reveals his ears. His torso is bare, and shows a youthful physique, with prominent clavicles and subtle musculature over his stomach and across his back. The nipples were once inlaid, and the face, the arms and the left leg were carved separately and are now missing.
This is a remarkably fine example, made all the more alluring by its fragmentary nature. The precise dating of 12th Dynasty is in part due to the bulge at the back of the wig, which was typical for this period.
Figurines such as this were placed in the tombs of the elite, and one of this quality and size must have belonged to a particularly wealthy or influential individual. Their presence there was connected to the ancient Egyptian concept of the ‘ka’, what we would think of as a persons spirit, and their individual character.
Wood was highly prized by the ancient Egyptians, for it was a material in high demand yet scarce in quantity due to the arid environment. The majority of wood had to be imported from countries to the east.
This is a remarkably fine example, made all the more alluring by its fragmentary nature. The precise dating of 12th Dynasty is in part due to the bulge at the back of the wig, which was typical for this period.
Figurines such as this were placed in the tombs of the elite, and one of this quality and size must have belonged to a particularly wealthy or influential individual. Their presence there was connected to the ancient Egyptian concept of the ‘ka’, what we would think of as a persons spirit, and their individual character.
Wood was highly prized by the ancient Egyptians, for it was a material in high demand yet scarce in quantity due to the arid environment. The majority of wood had to be imported from countries to the east.
Provenance
On consignment to Brummer Gallery, New York, USA; prior to 1947, inventory number X663
Vincent (1886-1967) and Olga (1906-2000) Diniacopoulos, Montreal, Canada; collection assembled 1910-1932 and 1954, and sold at Sotheby’s, New York, in June 1999
