Bent stave
Unknown Artist
ca. 1859–1640 B.C.
Medium
Wood, paint
Dimensions
L. 82 cm (32 5/16 in.)
Classification
Staff, stave, Imhotep
Period
Middle Kingdom
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund and Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1914
Accession Number
14.3.34
Art Historical Context
This intriguing *Bent Stave*, crafted around 1859–1640 B.C. during Egypt's Middle Kingdom (Dyn 12–13), a rare glimpse into ancient woodworking from the Egyptian Department at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Measuring 82 cm in length, this wooden artifact—adorned with paint— served a ceremonial or functional purpose, its distinctive bent shape evoking the stylized forms common in royal and elite regalia of the era. The Middle Kingdom marked a renaissance after periods of unrest, with art emphasizing balance, realism, and enduring craftsmanship. The use of wood as a medium was significant in an...