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Lot Essay
In death, as in life, the Egyptian nobleman sought to share his time with female companions. In the Twelfth Dynasty these so-called "concubine" figures took the form of stylised, attractive shapely women and were formed of wood, ivory, faience and clay. They are now understood to represent a more general idea of female fertility and sexuality, potent powers which could imbue the deceased with new life.
Many display brightly patterned clothing, jewelry and tattoos. The back of the head in this example is perforated for the insertion of hair, with dots and knobs along her back and buttocks indicating jewellery and tattoos. For similar examples now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, see fig. 137, p. 221 in Hayes, The Scepter of Egypt, vol. I.
Many display brightly patterned clothing, jewelry and tattoos. The back of the head in this example is perforated for the insertion of hair, with dots and knobs along her back and buttocks indicating jewellery and tattoos. For similar examples now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, see fig. 137, p. 221 in Hayes, The Scepter of Egypt, vol. I.