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Head from red granite statue of Seshemnefer II

Head from life-sized red granite statue, probably of Seshemnefer; traces of red paint on iris of eyes.

Details

  • ID
    MFAB_12.1487
  • Department
    Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
  • Classification
    Sculpture
  • Findspot
    Pit G 2191 B, probably originally from G 2200 = G 5080
  • Material
    Granite
  • Dimensions
    Height: 24.5 cm (9 5/8 in.)
  • Credit Line
    Harvard University–Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition
  • Object Ownership Information
    MFA
  • Period
    Old Kingdom, Dynasty 4
  • Owner
    Seshemnefer [II] (G 5080)
  • Notes
    This object was excavated by the Harvard University–Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition, but was not recorded in any object register book. 1912: Excavated by the Harvard University–Museum of Fine Arts Expedition; 1912: assigned to the MFA in the division of finds by the government of Egypt. (Accession Date: December 5, 1912)

Published Documents 4

Full Bibliography

  • Fisher, Clarence S. "The Harvard-University-Museum of Fine Arts Egyptian Expedition." Bulletin of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 11, No. 62 (1913), 20.

    Gamer-Wallert, Ingrid."Die bewegte Geschichte der Mastaba Seschemnofers III. (G 5170)." Sokar 9 (2. Halbjahr, 2004), p. 34.

    Pijoán, José, and Manuel B. Cossío. El Arte Egipcio: Hasta la Conquista Romana. Summa Artis, Historia General del Arte 3. 3. ed. Madrid: Espasa-Calpe, 1950, p. 113, fig. 114.

    Ranke, Hermann. The Art of Ancient Egypt: Architecture, Sculpture, Painting, Applied Art. Vienna: The Phaidon Press & London: G. Allen & Unwin, Ltd., 1936, pl. 61.

    Sanborn, Ashton. "New Installation of Egyptian Sculpture." Bulletin of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 23, No. 140 (1925), pp. 72-73, unnumbered fig.

    Smith, William Stevenson. Ancient Egypt as Represented in the Museum of Fine Arts. Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, 1942, p. 47, fig. 25.

    Smith, William Stevenson. Ancient Egypt as Represented in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, 1960 (6th ed.), p. 52-53, fig. 28.

    Smith, William Stevenson. A History of Egyptian Sculpture and Painting in the Old Kingdom. London: Oxford University Press, 1946, p. 46, 52, pl. 20a-b.

    Spanel, Donald. Through Ancient Eyes: Egyptian Portraiture: An Exhibition Organized for the Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham, Alabama, April 21-July 31, 1988. Birmingham: The Museum, 1988, pp. 50-51, cat. 6.

People 1

Ancient People

  • Seshemnefer [II] (G 5080)

    • Type Owner
    • Remarks Owner of G 5080. Pillars and jambs of court entrance and north and south false doors inscribed for Seshemnefer, identified as [jmj-r sSw a nswt Hrj-sStA n wDt-mdw nb nt nswt jmj-r kAt nb nswt sS Xrt-a nswt sS a nswt n sbAjt nswt Hrj-sStA n Xrt-a nswt jmj-r (pr) aHAw m prwj] overseer of royal document scribes, secretary of every royal decree, overseer of all royal works, scribe of the royal document-case, royal document scribe of the royal instructors, secretary of the royal document-case, overseer of (the house of) weapons in the two houses; also appears in chapel relief (west, south, and east walls); in situ in G 5080. Red granite sarcophagus (33-4-19 = Cairo JE 60541) inscribed for Seshemnefer; found in situ in G 5080 B.