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Unfinished Head of Nefertiti

Unfinished Head of Nefertiti is a limestone sculpture representing Queen Nefertiti in her younger years. It was discovered in 1912 by an expedition of the German Oriental Society led by Egyptologist Ludwig Borchardt. During the Second World War, the work was transferred from Germany to the Soviet Union along with other objects. It remained in the Hermitage Museum until 1958, when it was returned to the Egyptian Museum in Berlin. It is now preserved there under inventory number ÄM 21220.

Unfinished head of Nefertiti with closed eyes and a rough top edge.
Unfinished Head of Nefertiti, an ancient Egyptian portrait sculpture with a rough, unfinished crown area.
December 2014 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Unfinished head of Nefertiti in reddish-brown stone with a long neck and carved facial features on a light speckled base.
Unfinished head of Nefertiti, shown with rough carving at the top and a long neck on a display base.
April 2015 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Unfinished Head of Nefertiti shown from the front and in profile, with delicate carved features and a rough, incomplete top.
Unfinished Head of Nefertiti, shown in front and profile views, with its rough, unfinished upper portion visible.
August 2013 © · CC BY 2.0
Unfinished head and neck sculpture of Nefertiti in profile facing right.
Unfinished head of Nefertiti shown in profile, with a flat, uncarved top.
December 2014 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Right-side close-up of the unfinished head of Nefertiti with carved facial features and an ear against a blurred blue background.
Close-up of the unfinished Head of Nefertiti, showing the right side of the sculpted face.
April 2015 © · CC BY-SA 4.0

Identification

TitleUnfinished Head of Nefertiti
TypeUnfinished portrait head; part of a composite statue
SubjectNefertiti, probably in her youth; some researchers identify it as Princess Meritaten
Alternative namesHead of the Queen; Beauty

Historical context

PeriodLate Amarna period, mid-14th century BC
StyleAmarna art

Creator

Discovered byGerman Oriental Society expedition led by Ludwig Borchardt
Expedition contextExcavated under the auspices of the German Oriental Society in the ancient city of Akhetaten

Discovery and provenance

Discovery date1912
Discovery placeAmarna (Tell el-Amarna), ancient Akhetaten
FindspotWorkshop of the sculptor Thutmose, room 19, in a room just before the passage leading to the great court
Associated findsFound among many plaster casts and dozens of other objects, including the Bust of Nefertiti and sculptures depicting Akhenaten and his attendants
Related portrait seriesPart of a series of portraits of Nefertiti found in Thutmose's workshop
Related inventory numbersÄM 21300, ÄM 21358, ÄM 21263

Physical characteristics

Construction detailsIndicative lines on the neck show that the head was still in the elaboration phase; a royal headdress or crown was meant to be attached on top
AppearanceFine modeling with soft youthful, both realistic and idealized facial features, including dimples around the lips
ConditionUnfinished
Painted detailsThe eyes and eyebrows are outlined in paint, with a preliminary band on the forehead and ears
Unfinished featuresThe ears are not finished, the eyes are not inserted, and the stone surface is not fully polished
Dimensions29 × 14.9 × 16.5 cm

Materials

MaterialLimestone; sandstone; crystalline sandstone

Location and ownership

Current locationEgyptian Museum in Berlin
Current inventory numberÄM 21220
Transfer historyTransferred from Germany to the Soviet Union during World War II; held at the State Hermitage Museum until 1958; now in Berlin

History and restoration

Conservation statusPreserved in Berlin

Significance

Description by BorchardtDescribed by Borchardt as a masterpiece
Stylistic significanceCharacteristic of the late Amarna style
Attribution hypothesisSome researchers consider the same artist made this sculpture and the Bust of Nefertiti
Stylistic relationClose in style and execution to the Bust of Nefertiti
Comparative remarkYuri Perepyolkin compared it with the Bust of Nefertiti, describing it as sandstone with a serenely tender face and an extraordinarily quiet, restrained smile