W5291

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W5291

Black granodiorite sculpture of male holding two long objects. We do not know what the items are and assume them to be vases. We know of no comparable examples. 

Not only is the identification of items he is holding debateable but also the date. The object may be either Middle Kingdom or early 18^th Dynasty (c.1550-1400BC). 

The inscription on back states that the man is the Steward Iwf.  

Formerly part of the Rustafjaell collection purchased by Sir Henry Wellcome at auction on December 19^th-20^th 1906, lot 219. Published in Malek (1999, 382). For more information on Middle Kingdom art see Bourriau (1988). 

 

 

Further reading  

Bourriau, J. 1988. Pharaohs and Mortals. Egyptian Art in the Middle Kingdom. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 

Malek, J.,  Magee, D. and Miles, E. 1999. Topographical Bibliography of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphic Texts, Statues, Reliefs and Paintings, VIII, Objects of Provenance Not Known, Part 1. Royal Statues. Private Statues (Predynastic to Dynasty XVII). Oxford: Griffith Institute.  

Russmann, E.R. 2001. Eternal Egypt. Masterworks of Ancient Egyptian Art from the British Museum. London: British Museum Press.