Egyptian sycamore thumb and forefinger
New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, 1540-1295 BC
Length: 16 cm
A fragment from the left hand of a colossal statue carved from sycamore wood, consisting of the thumb and folded forefinger. Naturalistically modelled with nail and cuticles well defined, only the wrinkles across the joints omitted, details which may have been painted on. The fragment shows traces of original polychromy including to the back where another, indiscernible piece has been fixed in place with a metal nail. The placement of thumb and forefinger suggest the figure would originally have held an attribute in this hand.
The elegance and seeming elongation of this fragment is reminiscent of figures of the Amarna period, also suggested by the positioning of the hand. Several colossi found at Karnak depicting King Akhenaten demonstrate the hand position, whilst a talatat fragment from Tell el-Amarna, found at Hermopolis, stylistically mirrors this wooden thumb.
Condition: Remarkably well-preserved for the material; fissures in the thumb can be seen just above the nail and knuckle of the thumb; some traces of original polychromy survive
Literature: For images and information on the colossi of Akhenaten and talatat fragment, see C. Aldred, 'Akhenaten and Nefertiti' (Brooklyn, 1973), pp. 29-31, figs. 9-12 and p. 209, fig. 147 respectively.
Provenance: Private collection France
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New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, 1540-1295 BC
Length: 16 cm
A fragment from the left hand of a colossal statue carved from sycamore wood, consisting of the thumb and folded forefinger. Naturalistically modelled with nail and cuticles well defined, only the wrinkles across the joints omitted, details which may have been painted on. The fragment shows traces of original polychromy including to the back where another, indiscernible piece has been fixed in place with a metal nail. The placement of thumb and forefinger suggest the figure would originally have held an attribute in this hand.
The elegance and seeming elongation of this fragment is reminiscent of figures of the Amarna period, also suggested by the positioning of the hand. Several colossi found at Karnak depicting King Akhenaten demonstrate the hand position, whilst a talatat fragment from Tell el-Amarna, found at Hermopolis, stylistically mirrors this wooden thumb.
Condition: Remarkably well-preserved for the material; fissures in the thumb can be seen just above the nail and knuckle of the thumb; some traces of original polychromy survive
Literature: For images and information on the colossi of Akhenaten and talatat fragment, see C. Aldred, 'Akhenaten and Nefertiti' (Brooklyn, 1973), pp. 29-31, figs. 9-12 and p. 209, fig. 147 respectively.
Provenance: Private collection France
Enquire
New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, 1540-1295 BC
Length: 16 cm
A fragment from the left hand of a colossal statue carved from sycamore wood, consisting of the thumb and folded forefinger. Naturalistically modelled with nail and cuticles well defined, only the wrinkles across the joints omitted, details which may have been painted on. The fragment shows traces of original polychromy including to the back where another, indiscernible piece has been fixed in place with a metal nail. The placement of thumb and forefinger suggest the figure would originally have held an attribute in this hand.
The elegance and seeming elongation of this fragment is reminiscent of figures of the Amarna period, also suggested by the positioning of the hand. Several colossi found at Karnak depicting King Akhenaten demonstrate the hand position, whilst a talatat fragment from Tell el-Amarna, found at Hermopolis, stylistically mirrors this wooden thumb.
Condition: Remarkably well-preserved for the material; fissures in the thumb can be seen just above the nail and knuckle of the thumb; some traces of original polychromy survive
Literature: For images and information on the colossi of Akhenaten and talatat fragment, see C. Aldred, 'Akhenaten and Nefertiti' (Brooklyn, 1973), pp. 29-31, figs. 9-12 and p. 209, fig. 147 respectively.
Provenance: Private collection France