Pair statue of Ptahkhenuwy and his wife

Pair statue of Ptahkhenuwy and his wife
Egyptian, Old Kingdom, Dynasty 5, 2465–2323 B.C.
Findspot: Giza, Egypt
Height: 70.14 cm (27 5/8 in.)
Painted limestone
Classification: Sculpture
Accession number: 06.1876
Harvard University—Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition

Private sculpture of the Old Kingdom copied royal sculpture: the poses, youthful body forms, and the wife's embrace of the husband in this private sculpture is the same as those of King Menkaura and his queen in their dyad. The man here is identified by an inscription painted on the base in black paint as Ptahkhenwy, supervisor of palace retainers. He stands with his left leg forward in the traditional male pose, and his partner, her name no longer legible in the inscription and identified now only as "his wife whom he loved," stands beside him with both feet together.

© 2010 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston