Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Figurine of a Nude Female
Middle Kingdom
Not on view
This object is not part of The Met collection. It was in the Museum for a special exhibition and has been returned to the lender.
New types of figurines appeared during the Middle Kingdom depicting women with elaborate hairstyles who are either nude or wear garments that accentuate female anatomy. They have abbreviated limbs, wear jewelry, and are often tattooed. One type is formed from flat pieces of wood, the other from faience. Previously, they were described as concubines for the dead and more recently as sacred dancers tied to the cult of Hathor, though the absence of legs remains puzzling.
Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.
