ticketsMember | Make a donation

Funerary figurine of Queen Neferu

Middle Kingdom
ca. 2051–2030 B.C.
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 105
Several miniature coffins were found in the tomb of queen Neferu. They were inscribed with funerary formulas and the name of the deceased like actual coffins. Each of the miniature coffins contained a wax or mud figurine of a nude woman wrapped in linen and identified as Neferu herself by a short inscription. Such figures are known from other tombs of Dynasty 8 and 11. Funerary figurines of this type are probably the forerunners of the so called shabtis, which evolved in Dynasty 12 and became very popular from the New Kingdom on.
This figurine was found inside the miniature coffin 25.3.244b, c. For other such figurines and coffins see 25.3.240a-c, .241a-c, .243a-c.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Funerary figurine of Queen Neferu
  • Period: Middle Kingdom
  • Dynasty: Dynasty 11
  • Reign: reign of Mentuhotep II, early
  • Date: ca. 2051–2030 B.C.
  • Geography: From Egypt, Upper Egypt, Thebes, Deir el-Bahri, Tomb of Neferu (TT 319, MMA 31), corridor, MMA excavations, 1923–24
  • Medium: Wax
  • Dimensions: H. 12.5 cm (4 15/16 in)
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1925
  • Object Number: 25.3.244a
  • Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Statue of Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II in the Jubilee Garment, Sandstone, paint
Statue of Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II in the Jubilee Garment
ca. 2051–2000 B.C.
Relief of an Acacia Tree Shading Water Jars with Drinking Cups, Limestone, paint
Relief of an Acacia Tree Shading Water Jars with Drinking Cups
ca. 2051–2030 B.C.
Statue of Kneeling Captive, Limestone, paint
Statue of Kneeling Captive
ca. 2246–2152 B.C.
Lion Cub, Quartzite
Lion Cub
ca. 3100–2900 BCE
Tomb Chapel of Raemkai: West Wall, Limestone, paint
Tomb Chapel of Raemkai: West Wall
ca. 2446–2389 B.C.

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.