Tile fragment, part of a wig from a figure of the king
Unknown Artist
ca. 1279–1213 B.C.
Medium
Faience
Dimensions
H. 10.5 × W. 15.4 × D. 3.5 cm (4 1/8 × 6 1/16 × 1 3/8 in.)
Classification
Tile, palace of Ramesses II, headdress wig
Period
New Kingdom, Ramesside
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Rogers Fund, Edward S. Harkness Gift and by exchange, 1922, 1929, 1935
Accession Number
35.1.96
Art Historical Context
This exquisite faience tile fragment, dating to Egypt's New Kingdom (ca. 1279–1213 B.C.) during the Ramesside of Dynasty 19, captures a detailed section of a king's elaborate wig. Likely part of an inlaid decoration for a royal statue or monument, it the era's monumental art, when pharaohs like Ram II commissioned grand temples and colossal figures to embody divine power and eternal rule. Such fragments offer a glimpse into the opulent craftsmanship of ancient Thebes or nearby sites, where kings were depicted with stylized, voluminous wigs symbolizing youth, vitality, and god-like authority. ...