Striding Figure of Meryrahashtef
From Sedment
Old Kingdom, Sixth Dynasty (about 2345-2181 B.C.)
Ebony and sycamore, Height 22-7/8 in.
EA 55722, acquired in 1923, purchased with the assistance of the National
Art Collections Fund (cat. no. 9)
©Trustees of The British Museum, Courtesy AFA
This nude wooden statue of the official Meryrahashtef,
shown here as a young adult, was found in his tomb. The figure was carved
from a single block of imported ebony and shows great attention to anatomical
details, including taut muscles and an unusual indication of the shoulder
blades. Most extraordinary for Egyptian sculpture is the sense of youthful
energy conveyed by the bending, turning movement of the figures
torso.