Old Kingdom Limestone Head of an Official

Private collection, Switzerland, acquired during the 1950s. Thence by descent. The Property of a Swiss Private Collector. Antiquities Christie's, London, 23 September 1998. Charles Ede Ltd., London, 1999. Private collection, UK. Antiquities Christie’s London, April 2, 2014. Private Collection, Los Angeles CA, USA.

Worn chipped loss to top of wig and above right hand side above temple, also worn chips to rear lower edge of rear of wig. Worn chip to tip of nose. Overall surface with rubbing and loss to polychrome, minor surface abrasions and nicks. Underside drilled for mount. Inked 'A*.11' on neck on right hand side. Mounted on wood block mount, inked label underneath '4035'.

During the 5th and 6th Dynasties tombs for private individuals become more common and are often adorned with statues of different scales representing the deceased, either alone or together with their immediate family. Such figures were not meant to be an individual portrait, but rather served the purpose of representing the deceased in his newly-acquired immortal state.

see A Head of a Man, ca. 2350-2280 BCE, Walters Art Museum, 22.62