Female head with elaborate hairstyle
Unknown Artist
ca. 2600–2500 BCE
Medium
Limestone
Dimensions
H. 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm)
Classification
Stone-Sculpture
Period
Early Dynastic IIIa
Department
Ancient Near Eastern Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of E. S. David, 1949
Accession Number
49.25
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate limestone head, carved around 2600–2500 BCE the Early Dynastic III period, hails from the ancient Near East—likely Mesopotamia, a cradle of early civilization. Standing just 3⅜ inches (8.6 cm) tall, it exemplifies the exquisite stone sculpture of Sumerian artisans, who favored durable limestone for its fine grain, allowing intricate detailing on such small scales. Discovered and gifted to the Metropolitan Museum of Art 1949, it invites us into a world of temple worship and elite portraiture. The subject's elaborate hairstyle, cascading in stylized waves and coils, is a standout ...