Place of discovery: Saqqara, Excavated by C. Firth for the EAS (Egyptian Antiquities Service) in 1921
Size: Height: 110cm, width: 63 cm, Depth: 96 cm
Material: Limestone
The genre known as block statues originated during the Middle Kingdom and became increasingly popular in subsequent periods. This example is one of two commissioned by Hetep, each virtually identical but one was sculpted in limestone (this example) and the other in granite. The reason for the style is unclear: it may have been simply a way to produce a required image at minimal time and cost. Hetep is represented as sitting in a sedan chair, the type that was carried by means of poles attached for several men to lift and carry. Passengers would sit on a cushion and bend the legs, as the litters were not designed to stretch out the legs. The poles are eliminated here but the curved back is portrayed. Hetep’s arms are modeled in high relief, crossed over at the top of the block. His legs, also in high relief, emerge from the block at front and his feet rest on the bottom of the chair. He wears a flaring wig that shows his ears, and a false beard of formality. The ears are large and the eyes wide open and wide set, in keeping with the style of the time. His nose and mouth are damaged. The inscriptions that are carved vertically on the front sides of the chair and continue at the base give his name and titles and the offering prayer.
Place of discovery: San el-Hagar, Excavated by A. Mariette for the EAS (Egyptian Antiquities Service) in 1860
Size: Height: 165cm, width: 54 cm
Material: Granodiorite
Nofret, queen of Senwosret II, on a low backed seat. Her left arm is bent at the elbow, reaching across to touch her right arm just below the bicep. Her right hand is flat on her thigh. She wears a sheath dress, a pectoral bearing the name Khakheperre (Senwosret II), and a heavy “Hathor” wig with uraeus. Her nose is broken off. Her proper left upper arm, proper right lower arm, stomach, and the lower part of the statue, from mid-shin down, has been reconstructed, based on an almost identical statue of the queen (CG 382). There are vertical columns of hieroglyphs inscribed on the front of the throne, flanking the queen’s legs. Although most of these texts are missing, they would have given Nofret’s name and titles.
Place of discovery: Sheikh Abd el-Qurna, TT103 Dagi
Size: Height: 110 cm, width: 126 cm, Length: 292cm
Material: Painted Limestone
Rectangular sarcophagus of Governer of the Town and Vizier Dagi. There is one line of funerary inscription that goes around all sides of the exterior of the box. One of the long sides is decorated with a pair of wedjat eyes. The interior of the sarcophagus is adorned with images of funerary equipment, painted in color, along with hieroglyphic inscriptions in black.
Place of discovery: Saqqara, Excavated by A. Mariette for the EAS (Egyptian Antiquities Service) in 1861
Size: Height: 315 cm, width: 210 cm
Material: Painted limestone
False door of Iteti Ankhiris, with outer lintel and jambs, slab stela, inner lintel and jambs, mat roll, and statue of the deceased. The outer lintel is uninscribed, and bears no text. On each outer jamb are three columns of text above a figure of Iteti. On the panel, Iteti sits, facing proper right, before an offering table. On the inner lintel is an offering prayer in two horizontal lines and an image of Iteti seated. On each inner jamb are six columns of text comprising an offering list above an image of Iteti standing. The name of the deceased is on the mat roll. In the central niche is a figure of Iteti carved half in the round, standing on a high threshold with his arms at his sides, holding cylindrical objects in his fists. He wears a round wig and a knee-length kilt with a pleated flap. The pigment is well preserved towards the bottom of the door.
Place of discovery: Meir, Excavated for the EAS (Egyptian Antiquities Service) in 1894
Size: H. 36 cm
Material: Painted Wood
Striding statue of the porter, Niankhpepikem (“servant of Niankhpepi”), carrying a back pack (perhaps a medical bag) and a basket. The forward motion indicated by the stride illustrates his eternal portering service for his master, Niankhpepi, in whose tomb this figure was placed for such purpose. The figure of the servant is simple but well executed, dressed in a simple sheath kilt and wearing his hair, or perhaps a wig, neatly dressed in horizontal rows of short braids or twists radiating from the crown of the head. His load features a unique rendition of an ingenious carrying arrangement for one arm – a strap is attached to the right side of the pack and then is passed over the front chest and wraps tightly around the bent left arm help balance the load. The intricate decoration and bright colors of the pack and basket provide a colorful contrast to the simple figure. The pack features a leopard skin design bordered in red, white and green. The legs are pointed, a curious shape for resting the pack on the ground – perhaps they were driven into soft ground or sand to ensure stability. The basket with a colored diamond design, carefully rendered in black, white, yellow, and blue/green, has a handle; yet, our porter chooses to balance it on his right palm. Statuettes such as these were placed in tombs to ensure that the owner would enjoy all the creature comforts, such as servants, in the Afterlife as he or she had in this life – one wonders what the servants thought about this.