<em>Lady Mi</em>, 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. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 47.120.3_threequarter_SL1.jpg)

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. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 47.120.3_threequarter_SL1.jpg)

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Download our app and ask your own questions during your visit. Here are some that others have asked.

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!

Lady Mi

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: Egyptian Orientation Gallery, 3rd Floor

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.

MEDIUM Wood, bone?, gold leaf

Place Excavated: Medinet Gurob, Egypt

DATES ca. 1390–1353 B.C.E.

DYNASTY Dynasty 18

PERIOD New Kingdom

DIMENSIONS 6 1/8 x 1 3/4 x 2 1/4 in. (15.6 x 4.4 x 5.7 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 47.120.3

CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Egyptian Orientation Gallery, 3rd Floor

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. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 47.120.3_threequarter_SL1.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 47.120.3_threequarter_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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Download our app and ask your own questions during your visit. Here are some that others have asked.

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.

Oh, I was not aware of any acknowledgement of human aging in Egyptian art before tonight!