Barging Down the Nile – Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts

Egyptian funerary statues and models have always been very popular, and are particularly appealing because they resemble children’s toys. In reality, servant statues acted as substitute servants to provide goods and services to the tomb owner in the afterlife. Likewise, model boats assured a means of travel in the afterlife.

This wooden tomb model depicts a transport boat with a crew of six male figures. All are painted reddish-brown and wear short, black wigs and white kilts. White and black detailing has been used for their eyes. The boat is plastered and painted white with red lines on the top surface indicating divisions and beams of the boat's deck. A man stands as lookout at the bow in a striding pose with left leg and right arm advanced. A helmsman kneels at the stern and tends to the vertical stanchion for a steering oar. Four other figures flank a thin mast near the bow. A canopy on eight posts with painted black and white shields and a wooden tray are situated on the boat. A small swath of linen is attached to one of the sailors.