Egyptian statue sculpture Akhenaten bust - Museum replica - 18th dynasty

Akhenaten
Dimensions :-

Total height - 42 cm / 16-1/2 inches

Base square - 12 cm / 4-3/4 inches


Made of a limestone and quartzite composition stone the bust is mounted on a removable polished, felt based stand.


Description

Available here for the first time, is a replica fragment of a stunning bust of Pharaoh Akhenaten. This beautiful piece describes the features of the King in one of his last known portraits. Displaying the softer style that dominates these last years of a revolutionary reign, the bust has some interesting details to observe.

The sensuous lips are double lined and still posess a hint of red pigment that enlivens the face.

Another area of remnant pigment can be seen on the yellow brow band that connects the well-proportioned 'khepresh' crown.

This crown, also known as the blue crown, was the crown most worn by the famous sun king in statuary and relief representations. A rectangular depression above the brow would have once secured a gold uraeus cobra removed in antiquity.

This statue bust is one of the best preserved of the King from his years at Amarna and is a testament to the refined skill of the master sculptors that lived within the once thriving city of the horizon of the Aten.
Recent analysis has suggested the name Ankh-Kheperu-re could be associated with the identity of this bust based on the remnant red on the lips, but this remains a subjective viewpoint. Male statues also had red lips. Even statues of Ramses the great have been found to have red lip pigment and that of his son Mereneptah as well. It doesn't necessarily mean they were wearing a lipstick it is just a keen observation of the royal grade sculptors to differentiate the skin tone of the lip region.