Asset number
415539001
Description
Statuette of a king: the figure of a beardless king wearing a white crown, the weight of which seems to be pushing out the tops of his huge ears. Wrapped in a short, stiff robe, he strides forward on his left leg. Perhaps the most striking aspect of the figure is the sense of age conveyed by the stoop of the king's shoulders, the forward thrust of his neck, and the droop (possibly somewhat exaggerated by weathering) of his long, pointed chin. Though a few would disagree, most believe that this is a depiction of an aged king. The robe is the type worn by kings during the sed-festival. This ceremony of royal rejuvenation was already in existence at the beginning of the First Dynasty. Here, the garment has the form of robes shown on other Early Dynastic representations of this ceremony. Unlike other versions of the robe, however, the material is patterned, with a design of diamond shapes bordered by two bands of guilloche. The designs were carved with such plasticity that even the under-and-over intertwining of the strips in the guilloche bands can still be seen. The effect strongly suggests woven designs in a heavy fabric, rather than painting on leather, as has sometimes been suggested. The most singular feature of the robe is a sort of flap that hangs down over each shoulder. These "epaulets" are worn and cracked and extremely hard to see, but the better-preserved example, on the left shoulder, apparently has a scalloped edge. The objects appear to be unique, and no one has yet come up with a satisfactory identification or explanation, apart from a tentative (and unlikely) suggestion that they might represent animal paws. The arms of the figure are held at the front, by the fold of the cloak, and it is possible that the band of the robe hung over the right hand.
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