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Object Label

These three statues, from three different periods, were all carved from limestone. This kind of stone occurs in different grades from soft to hard. The harder the limestone, the more difficult to carve and the more skilled the sculptor must be. Soft limestone reveals less detail. Though nearly all ancient Egyptian statues were painted, the paint on the statuette hides the lower-grade stone used here.

All three statues would have been used in the tomb as a place for the ka-soul to reside and accept food offerings for the deceased from the living.

Caption

Sennefer, ca. 1938–1837 B.C.E.. Limestone, pigment, 6 1/2 × 3 1/4 × 4 3/4 in. (16.5 × 8.3 × 12.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 11.658. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Title

Sennefer

Date

ca. 1938–1837 B.C.E.

Dynasty

Dynasty 12

Period

Middle Kingdom

Medium

Limestone, pigment

Classification

Sculpture

Dimensions

6 1/2 × 3 1/4 × 4 3/4 in. (16.5 × 8.3 × 12.1 cm)

Credit Line

Museum Collection Fund

Accession Number

11.658

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