Face from the Lid of a Sarcophagus
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
On View: 19th Dynasty to Roman Period, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor
The broad, flat character of this face indicates that it came from a sarcophagus. The fillet with lotus flowers is a symbol of light, life, and rebirth.
The work's dating is based on its style: the organic modeling, heavily lidded eyes, and full, sensuous lips turned up in a smile find their best parallels in art of late Dynasty XVIII and early Dynasty XIX.
MEDIUM
Sandstone
DATES
ca. 1336–1250 B.C.E.
DYNASTY
late Dynasty 18 to early Dynasty 19
PERIOD
New Kingdom to Ramesside Period
DIMENSIONS
18 × 17 × 5 in. (45.7 × 43.2 × 12.7 cm)
(show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER
85.166
CREDIT LINE
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
One face from an anthropoid sarcophagus, of sandstone (?), with traces of a beard and the headdress adorned with a headband and flower.
Condition: Stone is blackened; large chips in headdress brow and ears; other small chips here and there; dirt incrusted in ears.
CAPTION
Face from the Lid of a Sarcophagus, ca. 1336–1250 B.C.E. Sandstone, 18 × 17 × 5 in. (45.7 × 43.2 × 12.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 85.166. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 85.166_PS9.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 85.166_PS9.jpg., 2019
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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we welcome any additional information you might have.
Tell me more.
One detail I especially like from this sarcophagus fragment is the way that the figure's ears are being pushed forward because the hair is so heavy!
Tell me more.
Can you see the markings on the hair? Those represent a floral head band.
Floral imagery was important in ancient Egyptian funerary equipment because it had connotations of rebirth since flowers die and come back each year.
Thanks for info!
