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Sa-Iset the Younger

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: 19th Dynasty to Roman Period, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor

Despite the damage, enough details of this finely modeled statue have been preserved to indicate its date. The staff, the pleated garment with the complex knot at the waist, and the elaborate wig with lappets (side parts) and pointed ends are all features that were popular in Dynasty XIX, particularly in Ramesses II's reign. These details and the inscription suggest that the person represented is the younger of two officials named Sa-Iset who were connected with the service of Wepwawet, the main deity of Asyut, an important town In central Egypt.

The facial features differ from those found on more conventional sculpture of Dynasty XIX. The round face, large eyes, high cheekbones, and pendulous lower lip may be either indications of Sa-Iset's appearance or characteristics of an artistic style popular at Asyut, which had long been producing distinctive large-scale wooden sculpture.

MEDIUM Wood
  • Place Found: Asyut, Egypt
  • DATES ca. 1279–1203 B.C.E.
    DYNASTY Dynasty 19
    PERIOD New Kingdom
    DIMENSIONS 22 1/2 x 6 x 6 1/2 in. (57.2 x 15.2 x 16.5 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 47.120.2
    CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Standing wooden statue of Si-eset, Overseer of the Granaries of Upper and Lower Egypt (also Overseer of the Granaries of the Ramesseum). Conventional pose with left leg advances, left arm supports inscribed standard, inscribed plinth at rear. Figure clad in elaborately pleated costume, eyes and eyebrows originally inlaid. The wig was brilliant blue, tunic light red, inlay of inscription on plinth white. Condition: Poor. Base missing. Both arms, left foot inlay of eyes and eyebrows, and considerable portion of standard missing. Scattered portions of tunic and plinth missing.
    CAPTION Sa-Iset the Younger, ca. 1279–1203 B.C.E. Wood, 22 1/2 x 6 x 6 1/2 in. (57.2 x 15.2 x 16.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 47.120.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 47.120.2_SL1.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 47.120.2_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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