Striding Figure of Meryrahashtef
From Sedment
Old Kingdom, Sixth Dynasty (about 2345-2181 B.C.)
Ebony and sycamore, Height 22-7/8 in.
EA 55722, acquired in 1923, purchased with the assistance of the National Art Collections Fund (cat. no. 9)
©Trustees of The British Museum, Courtesy AFA

This nude wooden statue of the official Meryrahashtef, shown here as a young adult, was found in his tomb. The figure was carved from a single block of imported ebony and shows great attention to anatomical details, including taut muscles and an unusual indication of the shoulder blades. Most extraordinary for Egyptian sculpture is the sense of youthful energy conveyed by the bending, turning movement of the figure’s torso.