Model ax
Unknown Artist
ca. 1981–1802 B.C.
Medium
Copper, wood, animal hide
Dimensions
l. 5.7 cm (2 1/4 in)
Classification
Model ax
Period
Middle Kingdom
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Edward S. Harkness, 1917
Accession Number
17.9.16
Art Historical Context
This delicate model ax, crafted around 1981–1802 B.C. during Egypt's Middle Kingdom (Dynasty 12), exemplifies the era's masterful miniature tomb offerings. Standing just 5.7 cm long, it features a copper blade, wooden handle, and animal hide bindings—materials chosen for their durability and symbolic resonance. These models were not mere toys but vital funerary items, buried with the deceased to ensure they could wield tools and weapons in the afterlife, reflecting the Egyptians' profound belief in eternal provision. In the Middle Kingdom, a golden age of stability and artistic refinement fol...