Fragmenary statuette of kneeling King Shabaqo

Art Historical Context

This small yet powerful statuette, carved from glazed steat and once highlighted with paint, depicts King Shabaqo kneeling in a gesture of offering or devotion. Created around 712–698 B.C. during Egypt’s Third Intermediate Period, it belongs to Dynasty 25, when rulers from the kingdom of Kush in Nubia established control over Egypt. The fragmentary figure captures the Kushite pharaohs’ deliberate embrace of ancient Egyptian royal traditions while introducing subtle stylistic elements drawn from their southern homeland. Measuring just over six centimeters in height, the piece was likely part of a larger temple votive or ceremonial group. The choice of steatite, a soft stone that accepts fine detail and takes a glossy glaze, reflects the high level of craftsmanship available to royal workshops of the time. Its compact scale suggests it may have been placed on an altar or within a shrine, allowing worshippers to connect directly with the king’s pious act. As a rare surviving Kushite royal image in the Metropolitan’s collection, the statuette illustrates a pivotal moment when Egypt’s artistic and religious heritage was both preserved and revitalized under Nubian leadership.