Upper right chest of queen in pleated garment and elaborate broad collar, with cartouches of the Aten

Art Historical Context

This striking fragment from the Amarna Period captures the upper right chest of a queen, dressed in a finely pleated garment and an elaborate broad collar. Carved in luminous red quartzite around 1353–1336 B.C., the piece features cartouches of the Aten, the sun disk that became the focus of worship under Pharaoh Akhenaten. Though only a portion of the original statue survives, the delicate folds of fabric and the precise hieroglyphs evoke the elegance and religious fervor of Egypt’s royal court during Dynasty 18. The Amarna Period marked a dramatic shift in Egyptian art and belief. Akhenaten’s promotion of Aten worship encouraged a more naturalistic style, with softer contours and intimate portrayals of the royal family. Red quartzite, prized for its warm hue and durability, was often reserved for important royal images, suggesting this queen—likely Nefertiti or one of her daughters—played a central role in the new religious landscape. Today, the fragment offers visitors a tangible connection to this innovative era, when traditional Egyptian canons gave way to expressive, sun-centered devotion. Its presence in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection reminds us how even small surviving pieces can illuminate profound cultural transformations.