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Fragments of alabaster statues

Object(s) photograph: Site: Giza; view: G 5230

Many various fragments of alabaster [statues]; [including: a) fragments from statue of Khumnbaef (Babef) including: portion of proper left side of figure from ankle to waist, fragmentary inscribed back support, portion of base, belonging with 14-2-2 and 14-3-1; b) fragments of at least one other statue]. Illustration: No

Details

  • ID
    HUMFA_14-2-4
  • Department
    Harvard University-Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition
  • Classification
    Sculpture
  • Findspot
    Street N of mastaba G 4820, [some originally from G 5230]
  • Material
    Alabaster
  • Credit Line
    Harvard University–Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition
  • Object Ownership Information
    MFA accession numbers: 14.1187.1–14.1187.5, 24.603
  • Period
    Old Kingdom
  • Date of Register Entry
    02/17/1914, 02/18/1914
  • Owner
    Babaef (G 5230)
  • Conservator
    David Dennis, American
    William Young, American
  • Remarks
    MFA 24.603 reconstructed alabaster statue of Khunmbaef (Babaef): including fragments from 14-2-2 = one fragment (top of inscribed back support) + 14-2-4 = multiple fragments (body, base, and back support) + 14-3-1 = multiple fragments (head) (reconstructed by William Young and David Dennis, 1939). MFA 14.1187.1: one fragment; MFA 14.1187.2: four joining fragments; MFA 14.1187.3 three joining fragments of inscribed base; MFA 14.1187.4: one fragment of inscribed base (?); MFA 14.1187.5: six joining fragments forming part of torso, arm, and hand.
  • Problems/Questions
    MFA accession numbers verified

Tombs and Monuments 1

  • G 4820

    • Site Name Western Cemetery

Published Documents 4

Unpublished Documents 3

Full Bibliography

  • Brovarski, Edward. "Two Old Kingdom Writing Boards from Giza." Annales du Service des Antiquités de l'Égypte 71 (1987), p. 47, note 5.

    Smith, William Stevenson. Ancient Egypt as Represented in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, 1960 (6th ed.), p. 53.

People 3

Ancient People

  • Babaef (G 5230)

    • Type Owner
    • Remarks Owner of G 5230. Name translated as either Khnumbaef or Babaef, identified variously as [sA nswt n Xt=f jrj-pat HAtj-a smr watj jmj-r kAt nb nswt xrp aH tAjtj sAb TAtj Xrj-Hb Hrj-tp Hm-nTr Hr THnw qA-a wr idt Hm st Hm jAqs Hm Hpwj (Hm) Hr SwA Hrj-sStA n mdw-nTr smsw snwt xt wr] king's son of his body, hereditary prince, count, sole companion, overseer of all royal works, director of the palace, chief justice and vizier, chief lector-priest, priest of Horus of Libya, elevated of arm, great of censing, servant of the throne, priest of the akes-ornament, priest of Hepwy, priest of Horus-Shewa(?), secretary of the sacred writings, elder of the snwt-house, khet-priest of the Great One. Six damaged limestone standing statues (14-11-92 = MFA 34.1461, 14-11-93 = MFA 34.235, 14-11-94 = MFA 21.953a-b, 14-11-95 = MFA 21.955a-b, 14-11-96 = MFA 21954a-b deaccessioned = MMA 64.66.2, 14-11-97 = MFA 21.956a-b deaccessioned = MMA 64.66.1) inscribed for Babaef; found in G 5230 S (= S chapel/serdab) SS-2. Four limestone statue bases (14-11-78, 14-11-79 = MFA 14.1686, 14-11-80 = MFA 14.1687, 14-11-81) inscribed for Babaef; found in G 5230 S (= S chapel/serdab) SS-1. Fragmentary black granite seated scribe statue (14-11-151 + 14-12-7 + 14-12-82 = MFA 21.931a-c) inscribed for Babaef; pieces found scattered in G 5230 S (= S chapel/serdab) room O, pit G 5221 A, and pit G 5211 A. Fragmentary incomplete red granite standing pair statue (14-11-84 = MFA 14.1688 + 14-11-89a = MFA 14.1690.1 + 14-11-89b = MFA 14.1690.2 + 14-11-89c = MFA 14.1690.3 + 14-11-117 = MFA 14.1960.2 + 14-11-118 = MFA 14.1697) inscribed for Babaef; pieces found scattered in G 5230 S (= S chapel/serdab) SS-1 and SS-2, and between mastabas G 5110 and G 5230. Fragmentary alabaster standing statue (fragments from 14-2-2 + 14-2-4 + 14-3-1 = MFA 24.603 reconstructed statue) inscribed for Babaef; found scattered in vicinity of G 4620 and G 4820. Fragments of alabaster seated statue (15-1-41) inscribed for Babaef; found between mastabas G 5110 and G 5230. Fragment of limestone statue base (33-2-170) inscribed for Babaef; found E of G 2370. Alabaster standing statue (KHM Vienna ÄS 7785) inscribed for Babaef; head of alabaster statue (KHM Vienna ÄS 7786) attributed to Babaef; lower part of granodiorite seated statue (KHM Vienna ÄS 8567) inscribed for Babaef; fragment of granodiorite standing statue (KHM Vienna ÄS 8566) inscribed for Babaef; all found in debris at north end of G 5230.

Modern People

  • David Dennis

    • Type Conservator
    • Nationality & Dates American
    • Remarks collaborated with William Young to restore objects as MFA 24.603 (alabaster statue)

  • William Young

    • Type Conservator
    • Nationality & Dates American
    • Remarks Founded Museum of Fine Arts' Objects Conservation and Scientific Research Laboratory in 1929, remaining director until his retirement in 1976.