Lady Mi
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Object Label
One of the finest wooden sculptures to survive from antiquity, this exquisitely carved figure of Lady Mi shows the elaborate wig and huge gold earrings worn by the great women of King Amunhotep’s court. Both Amunhotep III and Queen Tiye allowed themselves to be represented as mature—rather than eternally youthful—individuals. Faithful courtiers followed the royal lead. The carver of this figure indicated the breasts and belly of an older woman beneath the gossamer linen of the dress.
Caption
Lady Mi, ca. 1390–1353 B.C.E.. Wood, bone?, gold leaf, 6 1/8 x 1 3/4 x 2 1/4 in. (15.6 x 4.4 x 5.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 47.120.3. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Title
Lady Mi
Date
ca. 1390–1353 B.C.E.
Dynasty
Dynasty 18
Period
New Kingdom
Geography
Place excavated: Medinet Gurob, Egypt
Medium
Wood, bone?, gold leaf
Classification
Dimensions
6 1/8 x 1 3/4 x 2 1/4 in. (15.6 x 4.4 x 5.7 cm)
Credit Line
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
Accession Number
47.120.3
Frequent Art Questions
Who is Lady Mi and why is she an important Egyptian royal? Is it only women who are depicted as be human and aging?
According to the inscription, Lady Mi was not royalty herself, but likely lived in the palace and was instrumental in elite rituals.Rather than a gendered difference, I believe, this was more of a shift from dynasty to dynasty, ruler to ruler. There are also depictions of male rulers and elites as "mature individuals," depending on the era. This stautette, dates to the same time at the nearby wooden statue of Amunhotep III who is also depicted as aging.Oh, I was not aware of any acknowledgement of human aging in Egyptian art before tonight!
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