<em>Statue of Nykara and his Family</em>, ca. 2455–2350 B.C.E. Limestone, pigment, 22 5/8 × 14 1/2 × 10 7/8 in. (57.5 × 36.8 × 27.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 49.215. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 49.215_front_PS22.jpg)

Statue of Nykara and his Family, ca. 2455–2350 B.C.E. Limestone, pigment, 22 5/8 × 14 1/2 × 10 7/8 in. (57.5 × 36.8 × 27.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 49.215. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 49.215_front_PS22.jpg)

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Statue of Nykara and his Family

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

This family statue depicts Nykara, whose title is Scribe of the Granary, seated between the two standing figures of his wife and son. If Nykara were shown standing, his dimensions are such that he would tower over the other two figures. Also, although the boy’s nakedness, sidelock of hair, and finger-to-mouth gesture indicate that he is very young, he is depicted as the same height as his mother. These disproportions apparently resulted from the sculptor’s desire to show all three heads in a row.

MEDIUM Limestone, pigment

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS

Place made: Egypt
Possible place collected: Saqqara, Egypt

DATES ca. 2455–2350 B.C.E.

DYNASTY late Dynasty 5

PERIOD Old Kingdom

DIMENSIONS 22 5/8 × 14 1/2 × 10 7/8 in. (57.5 × 36.8 × 27.7 cm) mount: 22 × 16 × 12 in. (55.9 × 40.6 × 30.5 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 49.215

CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Painted limestone triad. In center, seated, the [crossed out: overseer] inspector of the scribes of the granary, Ni-ka-re; at his left, standing, his wife, the royal relative, Ni-ka.w-nb (.w); on opposite side standing figure of (his son), the scribe of the granary, Ankh-ma-re, naked, with right hand to mouth. Plinth at rear running up to center of heads. Inscribed (copy in vertical file) single column on each side of seat and two lines on base in front of each standing figure. Condition: Poor. All heads broken from bodies. Head of central figure damaged; other two heads more or less damaged. Front part of base broken in several pieces. Minor chips. Considerable loss of color.

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Statue of Nykara and his Family, ca. 2455–2350 B.C.E. Limestone, pigment, 22 5/8 × 14 1/2 × 10 7/8 in. (57.5 × 36.8 × 27.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 49.215. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 49.215_front_PS22.jpg)

IMAGE front, 49.215_front_PS22.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2024

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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