Global InformationNorthampton Sekhemka statue information
| Northampton Sekhemka statue | |
|---|---|
 Statue of Sekhemka | |
| Height | 75 cm |
| Width | 43 cm |
| Created | c. 2420 BC |
| Discovered | c. 1850 |
The Northampton Sekhemka statue is an ancient Egyptian artefact, given by the Marquess of Northampton to Northampton Museum, in or around 1870. The statue dates from the 5th dynasty (c. 2494–2345 BC, making it slightly older than Stonehenge) and depicts Sekhemka the scribe with his wife, Sitmerit. It was the subject of a controversial sale in July 2014, that raised questions of the museum's ownership and the ethics of selling artefacts.[1] The statue was sold to an unidentified buyer for £15.76m, which broke the world record for Ancient Egyptian art at auction.[2] On 1 August 2014, Northampton Museums had their accreditation removed by Arts Council England, which ruled that the sale did not meet the accredited standards for museums in managing their collections.[3]
- ^ Heal, Sharon (11 July 2014). "MA Condemns Sale of Sekhemka Statue". 11 July 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
- ^ "Museum faces outcry over sale of ancient Egyptian statue", Financial Times (London), 11 July 2014
- ^ "Sekhemka statue: Northampton Museum loses Art Council accreditation". BBC News. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2015.