Concubine figure head Ancient Egypt, Late Period, 664 - 332 BC Limestone and pigments 3,2 cm height, without stand Coopper stand display included, 6,5 cm height. Provenance: - Private colecction, France, before 1980 Condition: Good, original state, not restored, see photos. In Ancient Egypt, small figures of concubines were created in materials such as stone, wood, and faience. These objects are often known as “concubine figures” or “servant figures” and were placed in tombs as part of funerary equipment. They were especially common during the New Kingdom and later periods. The figures usually represent women with long hair, naked or wearing simple clothing, and sometimes decorated with jewelry or tattoos. Their bodies are often shown in relaxed or sensual poses, emphasizing their connection with beauty, fertility, and pleasure. Some figures hold objects associated with daily activities, such as mirrors, baskets, or musical instruments. Different materials had different symbolic and practical qualities. Stone figures were durable and could last for eternity, while wooden figures allowed artists to create more natural poses and details. Faience, a bright blue or green glazed material, was particularly important in Egyptian culture because its colors were associated with life, rebirth, and regeneration. Although they were traditionally interpreted as representations of concubines, modern scholars have suggested that their meaning may have been more complex. They could symbolize fertility, rebirth, sexuality, or the deceased’s desire for companionship and pleasure in the afterlife. Therefore, these small figures provide valuable information about Egyptian beliefs, art, and ideas about life after death.