SculptureEgyptian16th-13th century BCE

Head of Amun

18th-19th Dynasty

Description

A very fine, sensitively carved head of Amun with a braided beard and wearing the crown of lower Egypt. Eyes are almond shaped, slightly inset with the outer edge of the left eye 2mm higher than the outer edge of the right eye. Nose and mouth obliterated. Still visible on the left side is a soft, slight smile indicated by upcurving, incised line. The Divine beard, with a preserved length of 3 cm has incised braid marks. There is no space between the back of the beard and neck but instead a solid, continuous block of limestone, The back of the beard and the neck, both front and back, is indicated by incised lines. Crown indicated by incised lines. Left ear lies almost flat against the head because of damage. The right ear protrudes.

Classification

Sculpture

Medium

Limestone

Culture

Egyptian

Period

New Kingdom

Century

16th-13th century BCE

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Ancient and Byzantine Art & Numismatics

Dimensions

15.5 x 11 x 12.5 cm (6 1/8 x 4 5/16 x 4 15/16 in.)

Provenance

ex. coll. M.A,. Mansoor Collection, reportedly from Thebes. Parke-Bernet Galleries New York, "The Magnificent Collection of Ancient Egyptian Art,"January 30-31, 1952 no. 109. Mr. Bernath. Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York Sale #3262, November 5, 1971, no. 25. Christies, New York, "Important Classical, Western Asiatic and Egyptian Antiquities, December 5, 1979, no. 287.