Stelophorous Statue of Bay

Stelophorous Statue of Bay

Period: New Kingdom

Dynasty: Dynasty 19

Reign: reign of Seti I or later

Date: ca. 1294–1250 B.C.

Geography: From Egypt

Medium: Limestone

Dimensions: Overall: H. 28.1 cm (7 1/2 in); w. 15 cm (4 in); d. 15 cm (5 7/8 in)

upper half: h. 17.8 cm (7 in)

lower half: h. 11.5 cm (4 1/2 in)

Credit Line: Purchase, Fletcher Fund and The Guide Foundation Inc. Gift, 1966 (66.99.94)

Gift of R. J. Demarée, 2009 (2009.253)

Accession Number: 66.99.94

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/66.99.94,2009.253/

Description

This statuette depicts a kneeling man holding a stela inscribed with a hymn to the sun. An inscription on the back of the statuette identifies the man as Bay, who was a scribe working in the administration of the temple of Seti I, a post he probably held into the reign of Seti's son, Ramesses II. Complete statues of nonroyal individuals from this period are uncommon, and pieces of this fine quality are extremely rare.