Statuette of a Late Middle Kingdom Queen

Art Historical Context

This elegant statuette, carved from schist around 1825–1750 B.C., portrays a queen from the close of Egypt’s Middle Kingdom, spanning the end of Dynasty 12 into the early years of Dynasty 13. Standing just over six inches tall, the compact figure captures the poised dignity expected of royal women during a period when Egypt enjoyed renewed political stability and artistic refinement after earlier times of division. In the Middle Kingdom, queens often played vital roles as partners in divine kingship, their images placed in temples or tombs to ensure protection and continuity for the royal lin...