Figure of monkey
Unknown Artist
ca. 1981–1640 B.C.
Medium
Limestone
Dimensions
H. 10.8 cm (4 1/4 in.); W. 5.6 cm (2 3/16 in.); D. 6.9 cm (2 11/16 in.)
Classification
Figurine, monkey
Period
Middle Kingdom
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1934
Accession Number
34.1.179
Tags
Art Historical Context
This charming limestone figure of a monkey, carved Egypt's Middle Kingdom (ca. 1981–1640 B.C.), hails from Dynasty 12–13, a golden age of artistic refinement and renewed cultural stability after the First Intermediate Period. Standing just 10.8 cm tall, this petite sculpture captures the playful curiosity of its subject with compact proportions and a lively posture, reflecting the era's shift toward more naturalistic and intimate portrayals in art, often seen in small-scale votive objects or amulets. Crafted from limestone—a favored medium for its fine grain that allowed sculptors to achieve ...