Harpist
Old Kingdom, Dynasty 5, probably reign of Niuserre, ca. 2477-2466 B.C.
Giza (?), Tomb of Nykauinpu
Purchased in Cairo, 1920
Limestone, pigment
H: 8 1/8; W: 4 1/2; D: 6 1/4 in (20.7 x 11.6 x 16.1 cm)

Among the most charming of the Nykauinpu statuettes is the lady harpist who plucks the strings of a large shovel-shaped floor harp that leans upon her left shoulder. She wears a garment (indicated in paint or by carving) with a single broad strap that crosses her left shoulder and leaves her right shoulder bare. The woman's hair (or wig) is blunt-cut, the curls or braids indicated by crosshatching. She sits with her knees bent, her left leg under her, the foot turned upward as it emerges from under her right ankle.