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Statue of the Overseer of Stonemasons Senbebu and Family

Middle Kingdom
ca. 1981–1802 B.C.
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 106
Senbebu, the central figure of this group, was an overseer of stonemasons, a title indicating that he supervised quarrying and/or stonecutting, professions also held by his father and son. Abetib on the left was likely Senbebu’s wife, while Peryt on the right was either another wife or perhaps a sister-in-law. During the Middle Kingdom, mid-level officials such as Senbebu were increasingly able to commission commemorative monuments of respectable quality.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Statue of the Overseer of Stonemasons Senbebu and Family
  • Period: Middle Kingdom
  • Dynasty: Dynasty 12
  • Date: ca. 1981–1802 B.C.
  • Geography: From Egypt; Probably originally from Southern Upper Egypt, Elephantine
  • Medium: Sandstone
  • Dimensions: H. 22.2 cm (8 3/4 in.); W. 30 cm (11 13/16 in.); D. 16 cm (6 5/16 in.)
  • Credit Line: Dodge Fund, 1956
  • Object Number: 56.136
  • Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

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