Bust from a Seated Statue
Brooklyn Museum photograph
Object Label
Clothing, jewelry, and objects like staffs and scepters provide clues about individuals represented in sculpture and other works of art. Because certain features like costumes changed frequently, they can also reveal when an object was created.
If we know when a type of wig or garment was popular, for example, we can place a statue with that feature within a very limited time span. The elaborate style of wig seen here, with its twin masses of corkscrew curls, first appeared in the Eighteenth Dynasty reign of Amunhotep III (circa 1390–1352 B.C.E.) and remained fashionable for only a few generations. A faint inscription on the statue’s right arm confirms this dating and also tells us that this official served King Amunhotep IV, the son and successor of Amunhotep III. Five years after Amunhotep IV became king, he changed his name to Akhenaten, dating this statue to within a five-year period.
The two necklaces depicted here represent strands of gold disks, or the so-called Gold of Honor, presented to officials or soldiers who had performed an unusual act of valor. Although the name of this man has not been preserved, he was obviously very important in his time.
Caption
Bust from a Seated Statue, ca. 1353–1336 B.C.E.. Granite, 22 1/16 × 11 5/16 × 10 7/8 in. (56 × 28.8 × 27.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 69.45. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.69.45_erg456.jpg)
Title
Bust from a Seated Statue
Date
ca. 1353–1336 B.C.E.
Dynasty
Dynasty 18
Period
New Kingdom, Amarna Period
Geography
Place made: Egypt, Possible place made: Thebes, Egypt
Medium
Granite
Classification
Dimensions
22 1/16 × 11 5/16 × 10 7/8 in. (56 × 28.8 × 27.6 cm)
Inscriptions
Erased cartouches on right shoulder and right side of chest. The latter illegible, but the first must have belonged to Amenhotep IV. Inscriptions on rear of seat and two columns on back pillar do not preserve owner's name.
Credit Line
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
Accession Number
69.45
Rights
Creative Commons-BY
You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.
Frequent Art Questions
Who is this?
This statue is referred to as "Head and Bust from a Seated Statue" because we do not know what this man's name was. Without an inscription including the person's name we have to rely on visual cues from the statue itself to give us some idea about the man's identity. What features stand out to you the most?I'm drawn to his eyes.The eyes are definitely striking. Eye shape in Ancient Egyptian art was something that changed across different time periods. The eye shape, and in fact, the style of his whole face suggests that this statue was made during the 18th Dynasty, more specifically during the reign of Amunhotep III or later. From an inscription on the shoulder we know this statue was made during the reign of Amunhotep IV, the immediate successor to Amunhotep III.I noticed that it says there's an inscription on his right arm, but I can't locate it. Can you tell me exactly where it is?
The inscription you mentioned is on the front of his right shoulder. It's just a single cartouche and is actually quite faint. The cartouche contains the name of a king, Amunhotep IV, which actually tells a very interesting story. Amunhotep IV only used that name for the first 5 years of his reign and then changed his name to Akhenaten. You can learn about why in the small gallery to the left of the one you're in now. The presence of this name alone dates this statue to that very specific 5 year period.Was his nose broken on purpose? Is it to deprive him of his power?
Some statues' noses were certainly chiseled off to "ritually kill" the statue. In this case, however, it looks like the lack of nose is a result of thousands of years of wear.Do you know the type of material and tools were used to make this?
This statue is made of granite, a popular material for Ancient Egyptian statues because it is very hard and therefore lasts a long time. The dark color also makes details in the carving easier to make out.Ancient Egyptians used mostly chisels for outlines and rubbed the stone with a sand-like materials to smooth the surface.Does that explain why it has a sparkle to it?The sparkle has more to do with the properties of the granite itself, mostly the minerals it contains like mica. Another reason that the Ancient Egyptians valued it as a material to sculpt.What's this?
This statue shows an official who served under the pharaoh Amunhotep IV. Many people love this piece for its hair. The wig that this figure wears demonstrates a large volume of corkscrew curls. Wigs of this style first appeared during the reign of Amunhotep III and had a very limited run of popularity.Could you please tell me more about this sculpture?
While the figure cannot be identified, the features represent some key visual aspects of ancient Egyptian statues of that period. The wig he is wearing is characteristic of the 18th Dynasty. His necklace, known as the “Gold of Honor,” identifies him as an official who has been honored by the pharaoh, in this case Amunhotep IV according to the cartouche on his shoulder.This piece is by the text that explains the reasoning behind broken noses. I was wondering if this nose is broken, or just happens to be flatter than others.
Great observation! This nose definitely shows signs of damage. This one appears to have been worn down with some kind of abrasive rather than chiseled off like you may be more used to seeing.Thank you for your help!
Have information?
Have information about an artwork? Contact us at