21 - Female head. Egypt, Old Kingdom, 4th–5th Dynasties, ca. 2450 B.C.

Female head. Egypt, Old Kingdom, 4th–5th Dynasties, ca. 2450 B.C. Carved limestone. Provenance: former collection of Jacques Hollander (1940–2004), Belgium. Bibliography: Kazimierz Micha?owski, L'art de l'Égypte, Citadelles & Mazenod, Paris, 1994. In good condition, with surface erosion consistent with its age. Measurements: 14.6 x 20 x 17 cm. This female head is an outstanding example of Egyptian sculpture from the Old Kingdom, a period in which the aesthetic principles that would define the representation of the human figure throughout much of Pharaonic history were established. Dated to between the Fourth and Fifth Dynasties, it belongs to a period of significant development in statuary, characterized by a balance between idealization, formal precision, and expressive solemnity. Carved from limestone, it depicts a female face with harmonious features, including almond-shaped eyes, carefully defined eyebrows, a straight nose, and thin lips that convey a serene expression. Notable is the elaborate wig, parted down the center and arranged in longitudinal locks, topped by a double ornamental band. The frontal orientation and symmetry of the composition, together with the restrained rendering of the features, reflect the ideals of permanence and timelessness characteristic of Egyptian art. During the Old Kingdom, sculpture played a fundamental role in funerary beliefs, providing a lasting image of the individual intended to perpetuate their identity. The careful rendering of the face and hairstyle in this piece finds parallels in the female statuary from the necropolises of Giza and Saqqara. Its provenance from the Belgian collection of Jacques Hollander, a renowned collector of ancient art, adds to its historical significance.