In 1345 BCE, during Egypt's 18th Dynasty, the sculptor Thutmose crafted a bust of Nefertiti, the Great Royal Wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten. This bust was discovered in 1912 by a German archaeological team led by Ludwig Borchardt at Thutmose's workshop in Tell el-Amarna. Carved from limestone and coated in painted stucco, the bust stands 48 centimeters tall and weighs about 20 kilograms. It showcases a nearly symmetrical face with a striking blue crown and a floral-patterned collar. Notably, the left eye lacks the inlay present in the right, a feature that has invited much speculation. When Borchardt unveiled the bust publicly in 1924, it quickly gained fame as a symbol of ancient Egyptian beauty and art. Over the years, it became one of the most replicated works from antiquity. However, this fame also sparked controversy. Egypt has long demanded the return of the bust, arguing that Borchardt misrepresented its value to smuggle it out of the country under the colonial oversight of the French-led Egyptian Antiquities Service. Germany, meanwhile, maintains that the export was legitimate, citing official documentation from the excavation. Beyond its diplomatic implications, the bust reveals much about Egyptian artistry. Though made during the Amarna period—a time known for its artistic departures—the bust reflects more classical styles. Scholars like David Silverman and Gardner suggest it may have served as a model for other portraits. The bust's pigments, analyzed as early as 1923, included copper-colored frit for the blues and orpiment for yellows, among others. The missing left eye has prompted theories ranging from incomplete craftsmanship to symbolic intent or even medical affliction. More recent CT scans, conducted in 1992 and 2006, revealed that the bust had a more aged and realistic face beneath its surface layers—wrinkles and bags that were later smoothed with gypsum. This suggests that Thutmose may have idealized Nefertiti's features to align with contemporary beauty standards. Today, the bust remains at the Neues Museum in Berlin, as both a celebrated artifact of ancient Egypt and a flashpoint in ongoing debates about cultural restitution and the legacies of colonialism.

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Bust of Nefertiti