Limestone, pigment Old Kingdom, Dynasty 5, ca 2477 BCE Tomb of Ny-kau-inpu, Giza Left: Female Harpist, OIM 10642 H: 8 1/8, W: 4 3/8 D: 6 1/4 (20.7 x 11 x 16.1cm) Right: Male Dwarf Harpist, OIM 10641 H: 4 3/4, W: 2 3/4 D: 3 3/4 (12.5 x 7.2 x 9.6cm) Photo above ©Joan Ann Lansberry, 2010 Mary Harrsch has taken a much clear photo than mine! Mary Harrsch also photographed the male harpists The one on the right, which I did not photograph is OIM 10640 - Statuette, Man Harpist - Giza - Old Kingdom - Limestone - 111x62x100 mm

(From museum info card): These two statues are among a group of twenty-five "thought to have come from the tomb of a courtier named Nykauinpu at Giza. According to Egyptian beliefs, food and the pleasurable activities of daily life could be guaranteed in the afterlife by representing them in the tomb. As a result, statues such as these, which show individuals performing everyday tasks, were placed in tombs to perform necessary services for the deceased in the afterlife. Since statues were thought to be able to substitute for actual laborers..." (Photo of card cropped out further info.) (From _Ancient Egypt: Treasures of the Oriental Institute_, by Emily Teeter, pages 21-24): "Those stone statuettes evolved into wood models typical of the late Old Kingdom and Middle Kingdom. These were then replaced by ushebtis of the Second Intermediate Period and later." "Among the most charming of the Ny-kau-inpu statuettes are three harpests, two of which are pictured here. They lean large shovel-shaped floor harps upon their left shoulders and pluck the strings with their right hands."