Statuette of a man
Life Story
This greatly stylised statuette probably represents a man wearing a cap and cloak – the absence of nipples and the presence of a beard suggest that the figure is male. The back is flat and the sides notched, and there is a spiral transverse groove on the lower part of the figure with a deeper groove at the base, which possibly represents the hem of the garment. These figures are discussed by Vandier (1952: 421-6), who points out that they often appear in pairs among grave goods in Predynastic burials of Nagada 1 date.
Entry taken from Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Collection 3 volume catalogue, edited by Steven Hooper (Yale University Press, 1997).
Provenance
Formerly in the possession of Rev. G. D. Nash.
Purchased by Robert and Lisa Sainsbury from K. J. Hewett in 1959.
Donated to the Sainsbury Centre, University of East Anglia in 1973 as part of the original gift.
Not on display
Title/Description: Statuette of a man
Born: 4000 c. BC - 3600 c. BC
Object Type: Figure
Materials: Bone
Measurements: h. 68 x w. 24 x d. 8 mm
Accession Number: 299
Historic Period: Nagada I (c. 4000-3600 BC), 4th Millennium BC
Production Place: Africa, Egypt
Credit Line: Donated by Robert and Lisa Sainsbury, 1973
