Fragment from the head of a statue

Unknown

ca. 2381–2323 B.C. · Coniferous wood (Cedar), black paint · Egyptian Art

At least one statue of the deceased was an important element of the burial equipment. No complete statues were found during the clearance of Perneb's tomb, but several statue fragments were discovered in the debris of the superstructure. These would have belonged to one or more figures either of Perneb himself or of members of his family. The statues would have been placed originally in Perneb's "serdab," a hidden room behind one of the chapel walls (see 98.4.9). This fragment preserves the side of a face framed by a short, curled wig, painted black, from the head of a male statue. The deep undercut at the corner above the cheek is typical of the late Fifth Dynasty.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 2381–2323 B.C.

Medium

Coniferous wood (Cedar), black paint

Department

Egyptian Art

Credit line

Gift of Edward S. Harkness, 1914