Relief of Queen Neferu having her hair done
Unknown Artist
ca. 2051–2030 B.C.
Medium
Limestone, paint
Dimensions
26.3.353k: 26 x 8.5 cm (10 1/4 x 3 3/8 in.)
Classification
Relief, female attendants, Neferu
Period
Middle Kingdom
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1926
Accession Number
26.3.353-2-related
Art Historical Context
Step into the refined world of ancient Egypt's Middle Kingdom with this charming limestone relief depicting Queen Neferu having her hair styled. Created around 2051–2030 B.C. during Dynasty 11, this small fragment (26 x 8.5 cm) captures an intimate moment of royal grooming, offering a rare glimpse into the daily life of a queen from a pivotal era. The Middle Kingdom marked a renaissance in Egyptian art after the chaos of the First Intermediate Period, emphasizing stability, piety, and detailed realism in representations of the elite. Carved in low relief on limestone and originally adorned wi...