Ca. 2055-1650 BC. Middle Kingdom. An articulated wooden tomb figure. The statuette's surface contains traces of white at the waist where a kilt would be and red at the chest where exposed skin would be, showing this was once painted, though most of the paint has been worn away. It features a round head with hair or a wig, and a long body that is truncated part way down the legs. Two arms are attached separately so that this is articulated and could be arranged in different positions. Scenes of models like this one were placed in tombs and burial shafts before and during the Middle Kingdom, though it was during the Middle Kingdom that they were used most widely and during which there was the greatest variety of scene types. These scenes typically depict boats, workshops, soldiers, cattle inspections, scribes, sedan chairs, and, as in this case, food production. The purpose of these scenes was to provide the deceased with important services and servants in the afterlife, and the models were placed on and around the coffin. Size: L:with stand 175mm / W:65mm ; 218g. Provenance: From the important collection of a London doctor A.R; passed by descent to his son; formerly acquired before 2000 on the UK art market.