Naked male figure
Can I see it?
Not on view at present
Where is “Naked male figure” now? Collection: Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Not on view at present. Checked September 25, 2026.
London, United Kingdom
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the sculpture
This plaque showing a naked male figure is of Egyptian origin from the 3rd or 4th century (Coptic / late Antique) and was intended for applying to a casket.
Similar carvings, many of which follow the more or less convex curve of the bone, have been found in great quantities, chiefly in the district of Alexandria. The figure subjects are usually taken from mythology and are similar to those on textiles, but occasionally biblical scenes occur. The carvings were probably used in the decoration of wooden caskets.
Coptic refers to the Copts, which are Christian Egyptians with ancient origins dating back to the first century.
Victoria and Albert Museum
Details
- Accession number
- 822-1905
What it shows
In the catalog
Sources
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- Image: Victoria and Albert Museum — © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
