<em>Seated Statue of Nakhtsaes</em>, ca. 2371–2298 B.C.E. Limestone, pigment, 24 1/2 x 10 1/4 x 16 3/4 in. (62.2 x 26 x 42.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.22E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.22E_front_PS1.jpg)

Seated Statue of Nakhtsaes, ca. 2371–2298 B.C.E. Limestone, pigment, 24 1/2 x 10 1/4 x 16 3/4 in. (62.2 x 26 x 42.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.22E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.22E_front_PS1.jpg)

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I would like to know more about this sculpture, please.

It dates to 2371–2298 B.C.E, which is relatively early in ancient Egyptian history, during the Old Kingdom. His name and job titles are written in the vertical strips of hieroglyphs beside his legs and feet. The pigment is remarkably well preserved!

What was the purpose of this piece?

Pieces like these were often placed in tombs. Also, the flat surfaces surrounding the figure create space for inscriptions and additional images like the three figures you can see on the sides, probably Nakhtsaes' wife and sons.

Thanks! What do you do think the sculptors class was in that society?

Sculptor was an important job in Ancient Egypt as sculpture played a key role in religion and the afterlife. Most sculptors were part of workshops. They worked together under a master artist who provided examples and training for apprentices to copy.

Do you know what the hieroglyphs on the chair say?

Recorded beside his legs are his name, Nakhtsaes, and his titles.

What are the materials they used to make this work of art?

The Seated Statue of Nakhtsaes is sculpted out of limestone with chisels and sand. The stone was then painted with mineral-based pigments. Ancient Egyptian sculpture was often painted, though little pigment remains, making this sculpture special.

I see that he has no head, what happened to the head?

Actually, we do not know what happened to his head. It came into the collection without it!

Because of the age of the sculptures, if you look around the galleries, you will see many of them with broken parts or pieces, but it is amazing that they have survived this long! If you are still at Nakhtsaes, did you notice the unusual fact that figures are shown in relief on the sides of the seat?

Yes, I did find that interesting.

You may have read this on the label, but I always found it interesting that one of the scribes shown had a pen in their hair: The figure on his right side shown writing on a piece of papyrus (identified as “the scribe Sekhem-ka”).

How do you keep it in good condition?

The galleries are climate controlled and no one is allowed to touch the pieces so that they can stay clean and in good condition.

We also have a conservation department right here in the museum that can work on objects to make sure they stay in good condition!

Thanks, you've been a big help!

Does anyone know what this says?

Yes! Statues like this one designed for the tomb of Nakhtsaes generally include names and titles of the subject.

The inscriptions facing front, on Nakhtsaes's chair together read: "Nakhtsaes, judge, elder of the hall, strong of voice, mouth of Nekhen, controller of the phyle, an 'adj-mr grgt' (an official connected to land administration), overseer of the Farafra Oasis, and 'adj-mr tnw' (another title associated with land administration), and a royal acquaintance."

Is this from the Old Kingdom era?

Yes! This statue represents a man named Nakhtsaes who lived at the end of the 5th Dynasty which is indeed part of the Old Kingdom period.

I've noticed that a lot of sculptures had people seating in that pose a lot with the fist on the left hand and facing palm on the right hand. Does this mean something?

This was a common pose in Egyptian statuary. A lot of the time the figure would be holding something in their fisted hand, an object that was inserted into the whole. These materials, sometimes made of wood and not fixed to the statue are often lost.

What's the significance of the hand positions - right hand fisted and the left flat? I've noticed it with several pieces.

That is a really great observation! The open hand is basically a standard depiction of a hand, your can see the whole thing. Oftentimes, the figure would hold something in the closed hand, some sort of symbolic representation.

You'll notice, if you look closely, that the fist contains a white cylinder. Scholars are unsure what this object represents, but some theories are: a representation of a staff because sculpting one would be too fragile, or a rolled up paper or cloth with a prayer written on it.

I see that now! Very interesting - thank you.

Where would someone put this, their house?

Pieces like these were often placed in tombs to receive offerings of food and drink to sustain the deceased in the afterlife.

The mouths of sculptures would be ritually "opened" with a special knife to allow them to consume the offered food. We have one of these knives on display nearby.

How come many statues have one hand in a fist and the other flat?

The flat hand is easy to explain, ancient Egyptians like depicting hands in this way because it gives you a very complete picture of the hand, you can see all of the fingers.

As far as the fist: We believe that it is meant to look like he is holding something, but we don't know what it is. The ancient Egyptians did not describe this pose in any writing that has survived.

Some theories are that he is meant to look like he is holding a staff or scepter which would have been too delicate to include, it may be an amulet, a rolled-up prayer, or even some type of seal.

Seated Statue of Nakhtsaes

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: Old Kingdom to 18th Dynasty, Egyptian Galleries, 3rd Floor

Despite the loss of the head, the rest of this statue of a man named Nakhtsaes is in unusually good condition. Nakhtsaes’s name and job titles are written in the vertical strips of hieroglyphs beside his legs and feet. A rather unusual feature of this statue is that figures are shown in relief on the sides of the seat. To Nakhtsaes’s left are a naked boy named Akhet-hotep and a girl or woman named Weseret-kaw, whose relationship to Nakhtsaes is not specified. The figure on his right side, shown writing on a piece of papyrus, is identified as “the scribe Sekhem-ka.” He is equipped with a second pen, which is stuck in his hair.

MEDIUM Limestone, pigment

Reportedly From: Saqqara, Egypt

DATES ca. 2371–2298 B.C.E.

DYNASTY late Dynasty 5 or early Dynasty 6

PERIOD Old Kingdom

DIMENSIONS 24 1/2 x 10 1/4 x 16 3/4 in. (62.2 x 26 x 42.5 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 37.22E

CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Seated limestone statue of Nakhtsais bearing relief representations on the sides of the chair. Nakhtsais wears a short kilt. His left hand is palm down on his left knee; his right hand, rolled in a fist, rests upon his right knee. The seat's plinth is rounded in the front. The rear of the seat extends up to chest level. On the front of the seat there are two columns of hieroglyphs which run down onto the top of the plinth. To the left of the legs is an inscription, as well as to the right. In a rectangular panel on the left side of the seat there is a representation in raised relief of a standing nude boy and girl and two texts. On the opposite side in raised relief is a scribe holding a papyrus and pen. He is identified as the "Scribe Sekhemka." These figures are painted the red used for human figures. The hieroglyphs accompanying them are done in black. The seat is black and the hieroglyphs on the front are green. The figure bears traces of red paint.

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Old Kingdom to 18th Dynasty, Egyptian Galleries, 3rd Floor

CAPTION Seated Statue of Nakhtsaes, ca. 2371–2298 B.C.E. Limestone, pigment, 24 1/2 x 10 1/4 x 16 3/4 in. (62.2 x 26 x 42.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.22E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.22E_front_PS1.jpg)

IMAGE front, 37.22E_front_PS1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2007

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