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Hairdressing Scene

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: Old Kingdom to 18th Dynasty, Egyptian Galleries, 3rd Floor
These fragments originally belonged to a scene showing royal hairdressers attending Queen Neferu (see accompanying reconstruction). The relief on the right depicts Neferu, identified as “The King’s Wife,” wearing an elaborate beaded collar. Behind her the hairdresser Henut has already pinned one strand of hair in place and twists another one. The relief on the left depicts the hairdresser Inu holding a triple lock of hair that she will attach to Neferu’s coiffure.
CULTURE Egyptian
MEDIUM Limestone, pigment
DATES ca. 2008-1957 B.C.E.
DYNASTY late Dynasty 11
PERIOD Middle Kingdom
DIMENSIONS 5 3/16 x 9 5/8 in. (13.2 x 24.5 cm)  (show scale)
INSCRIPTIONS The name is probably a variant writing of Ranke, Personnamen, 38,5.
ACCESSION NUMBER 51.231
CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Fragment of a limestone tomb relief. In sunk relief, woman facing right braiding strand of hair held in her hands in front of face. Inscribed "The hairdresser, Yennu." Colors; wig, black; eye, white and black; strand of hair and inscription, pale blue. Red guide lines remaining. Condition: Figure of woman preserved only to breast. Breaks at upper right edge seem to be ancient defect.
MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Old Kingdom to 18th Dynasty, Egyptian Galleries, 3rd Floor
CAPTION Egyptian. Hairdressing Scene, ca. 2008-1957 B.C.E. Limestone, pigment, 5 3/16 x 9 5/8 in. (13.2 x 24.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 51.231. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 51.231_view1_PS2.jpg)
IMAGE overall, 51.231_view1_PS2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2007
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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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