Collection
/
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Early Metal Statuette

ca. 1938–1759 B.C.E.

1 of 4

Object Label

Although ancient texts reveal that the Egyptians fashioned copper statuary in human form at least as early the Second Dynasty, this Middle Kingdom statuette is one of the oldest preserved examples. The figure stands in a traditional pose, with the same type of kilt and short hair that appear on many stone images of officials.

Caption

Early Metal Statuette, ca. 1938–1759 B.C.E.. Copper, 5 11/16 × 1 9/16 in. (14.4 × 4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 35.1274. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.35.1274_NegA_print_bw.jpg)

Title

Early Metal Statuette

Date

ca. 1938–1759 B.C.E.

Dynasty

Dynasty 12

Period

Middle Kingdom

Geography

Place made: Egypt

Medium

Copper

Classification

Sculpture

Dimensions

5 11/16 × 1 9/16 in. (14.4 × 4 cm)

Credit Line

Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

Accession Number

35.1274

Rights

Creative Commons-BY

You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.

Frequent Art Questions

  • Tell me more.

    This figure looks a bit like an image of the god Ptah, but we're not actually sure who it depicts. The kilt he wears suggests that he may be an official. His bald head or skull cap suggest that he is a priest, given the time period. (Over 1000 years later some kings were shown with skull caps as well.) He could also represent Imhotep, the architect behind the first pyramid who was later deified.
    Awesome, thanks for the info :)

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