Artwork
Man Making Leather Rope, Tomb of Rekhmire

Man Making Leather Rope, Tomb of Rekhmire is an unspecified painting by Nina M. Davies. It dates from 1490 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This drawing by Egyptologist and illustrator Nina M.
About this work
Overview
It depicts a man engaged in the craft of making leather rope, offering insight into the daily labor practices of ancient Egypt.
This drawing by Egyptologist and illustrator Nina M. Davies meticulously reproduces a scene from the ancient Tomb of Rekhmire. It depicts a man engaged in the craft of making leather rope, offering insight into the daily labor practices of ancient Egypt. Davies' work was part of a broader effort to document and preserve the visual record of these historical sites. The piece is now part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork focuses on a solitary figure seated on a low stool, intently twisting material to form leather rope. Behind him, finished coils hang, indicating the output of his work. This depiction of a specific craft highlights the tomb's broader thematic emphasis on the everyday activities and occupations that sustained ancient Egyptian society, providing a window into the practical skills and labor of the period.
Technique & Style
Executed as a black-and-white drawing, Davies' reproduction captures the details of the original tomb painting with precision. The clean, focused lines emphasize the man's hunched posture and the specific actions involved in twisting the rope, conveying the physical effort of the task. Rather than a mere sketch, the drawing functions as a careful study, designed to accurately record and convey the ancient artistic representation of labor.
History & Provenance
Nina M. Davies, a notable Egyptologist and illustrator, created this drawing as part of her extensive work documenting ancient Egyptian tomb art. She often collaborated with her husband, Norman de Garis Davies, on such projects. Their detailed reproductions were frequently published under his name, which has historically complicated the individual attribution of specific works to Nina. This particular drawing is held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Artist & collection
Artist
The Egyptologists Nina M. Davies (6 January 1881 – 21 April 1965) and Norman de Garis Davies (1865–5 November 1941) were a married couple of illustrators and copyists who worked in the early and mid-twentieth century…

















