Bust of Nefertiti

The Bust of Nefertiti is a painted portrait of the Egyptian queen made during the Amarna period in the fourteenth century BC. Discovered in the workshop associated with the sculptor Thutmose, it combines a limestone core with layers of stucco used to refine the face and neck. The tall blue crown, long neck and carefully balanced features give the portrait its recognizable silhouette. Preserved pigments and the inlaid right eye are integral to its appearance. The bust belongs to the Egyptian Museum's collection in Berlin. Whether it served as a sculptor's model or an almost finished independent work remains uncertain.