Metropolitan Museum of Art MMA Egyptian King & Queen Plaque Reliefs

These plaques are in good used condition and show normal signs of wear. Each plaque measures approximately 7 1/4" x 4 1/2".

This was made in the museum's studio. A master mold for the cast stone plaques was taken directly from the limestone original, and each piece was cast and finished by hand to recreate the surface texture and coloring of the original sculpture.

A superb example of Egyptian relief and carving technique, this limestone sculptor's model dates from the Ptolemaic period. Master sculptors carved small plaques, like this one, leaving many details unfinished, and offered them to their apprentices as models. In essence, they are the master's sketches. Many of these plaques are thought to have been votive offerings. Inscriptions on a few plaques are clearly votive, and the fairly narrow range of subjects depicted among the large number of plaques preserved seems to indicate a standardized function. A votive plaque of an appropriate type would have been left in a temple to express the devotion of the donor or to represent a request.

Egyptian King Plaque (Ptolemaic Period, 332-30 B.C.) After the death of Alexander the Great in 332 B.C., his general Ptolemy Lagus assumed the throne of Egypt, beginning a dynasty of 15 kinds, all of whom shared the name Ptolemy. This representation depicts one of these Macedonian-descended rulers, identified as king by the royal nemes headdress and uraeus on his brow.

Egyptian Queen Plaque (Ptolemaic Period, 332-30 B.C.) Executed in high relief, the original plaque depicts one of the queens of the Ptolemaic dynasty, seven of whom were named Cleopatra. The virtuosity of the sculptor is evident in the modeled surfaces of her figure and in the superb detailing of her wig. Her broad collar has been left unfinished, with only the uppermost row of beads indicated.

Normal handling of the plaque will not harm it. To keep it cleaned and polished, rub the surface with a soft, dry cloth. WARNING: Do not immerse this sculpture in water. Do not use water, abrasives, scouring powders, or chemical cleaners on the surface as damage to patina will occur. Outdoor exposure is not recommended.