Model dagger
Unknown Artist
ca. 1981–1640 B.C.
Medium
Wood
Dimensions
l. 15.3 (6 in)
Classification
Model dagger
Period
Middle Kingdom
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund and Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1922
Accession Number
22.1.664
Art Historical Context
This exquisite **Model Dagger**, crafted from wood around 1981–1640 B.C. during Egypt's Middle Kingdom (Dyn 12–13), a glimpse into the daily life and beliefs of ancient Egyptians. Measuring just 15.3 cm (6 in.) long, it exemplifies the period's refined artistry, when Egypt enjoyed renewed stability, prosperity, and cultural flourishing after earlier turmoil. Such miniature weapons were not mere toys but symbolic grave goods, buried with the deceased to provide protection and sustenance in the afterlife—a testament to the Egyptians' profound focus on eternity. Carved with meticulous detail, th...