Fine Egyptian 12th Dynasty Wood Standing Dignitary

Egyptian, Middle Kingdom, 12th Dynasty, ca. 1991 to 1783 BCE. Skillfully carved from a single piece of wood, a male figure who stands upright with disciplined posture, his arms held tightly to his sides with clenched fists, his lower body dressed in a knee-length shendyt (kilt-like garment) leaving his chest bare with nicely delineated musculature (note those pectorals) and navel. He possesses a relatively naturalistic face; this penchant for realism began during the Old Kingdom and carried into the Middle Kingdom. His face is finely modeled with wide open almond-shaped eyes, arched brows, a veristic nose, slightly parted lips, and a pointed chin - his visage topped by a short-cropped hairstyle that still reveals his ears. The figure's rigid pose and quiet expression reveal the ancient Egyptians' desire to represent the deceased in a manner suitable for all eternity. An incredibly rare and very well-preserved example! Size: 2.4" W x 9.45" H (6.1 cm x 24 cm); 9.55" H (24.3 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Connecticut collection; ex London Art Market, 1972; ex-collection of Seward J. Kennedy (1925-2015), London and New York; ex-Stair Galleries, New York, 29 April 2018, lot 503.

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#155927
Condition Report: The figure is missing one forearm as shown and the front/sides of the feet. Minute loss on lower back (possibly an irregularity in the wood). The feet have tabs that fit into the modern stand. Incredible preservation of detail and form, with rich patina. Stand is modern.