AN 230759 Limestone statuette of a servant grinding corn 6th Dynasty, about 2345–2181 BC This figure was placed in a tomb to provide an everlasting supply of bread for the dead person. The servant is using a grindstone to crush cereal grains into flour. This process may have added small fragments of stone grit to the bread dough which possibly contributed to the heavy dental wear seen in some mummies. British Museum EA 2378 AN 405317 Bowl of grain This bowl contains emmer wheat and barley, the raw ingredients for the two staples of the ancient Egyptian diet – bread and beer. British Museum EA 53944

AN 1436539001 Flatbread with a hand imprint, New Kingdom, about 1550–1070 BC British Museum, EA 5341 AN 1478983 Bread in the shape of a leaf, probably New Kingdom, about 1550–1070 BC British Museum EA 5360 AN1478986 Circular loaf of bread decorated with circles, probably New Kingdom, about 1550–1070 BC British Museum EA 5345

AN 406832 Pottery jar of woman playing the lute, Mid-18th Dynasty, about 1480–1350 BC British Museum EA 5114 AN226720 Wall painting of musicians playing lutes and flutes from the tomb of Nebamun British Museum EA 37981– on display in Room 61

AN 391758 Pair of bone clappers decorated with the face of Hathor, New Kingdom, about 1550–1070 BC British Museum EA 20779-80 AN 293406 Bronze sistrum decorated with the face of Hathor, Late Period, 664–305 BC British Museum EA 38172 AN 414087 Arched harp, New Kingdom, about 1550–1070 BC British Museum EA 38170

AN 141396 Statue of a man wearing a wig, Late 18th or 19th Dynasty, about 1350–1186 BC British Museum EA 2338 AN 35305 Wig of human hair, probably late 18th Dynasty, about 1350 BC British Museum EA 2560

AN 328720 AN 328717 Figure of a girl holding a kohl pot, 12th Dynasty, about 1985–1795 BC The girl’s head is shaven except for a single plaited lock of hair at the down her. A fish-shaped pendant is attached to her hair. British Museum, EA 2572

AN 1188845 Wooden comb, Late 18th Dynasty, about 1350–1295 BC British Museum EA 55084 AN 45154 Bronze razor, 18th Dynasty, about 1550–1070 BC British Museum EA 37198 AN 420085 Bronze hair implement, New Kingdom, about 1550–1070 BC British Museum EA 37179

1462237002 AN 1462237002 Funerary stela of the child Merysekhmet, mid-18th Dynasty, about 1400–1350 BC Merysekhmet is shown sitting on his mother’s knee. British Museum EA 804

AN 22955 Ceramic vessel in the shape of a woman and child, mid-18th Dynasty, about 1480–1350 BC British Museum EA 24652 AN 335022 Limestone relief of a woman and child, Late 18th Dynasty, about 1350–1330 BC British Museum EA 15973

AN 566696 Wooden toy horse with wheels, Roman Period after 30 BC British Museum EA 26687 AN 1479936001 Painted clay model of a mouse, possibly New Kingdom, about 1550–1070 BC Toy mouse, with body modelled in clay decorated with brownish-purple paint. The lower jaw is of wood and is moveable (pivoting around wooden pins through main body). A wooden toggle pin is attached to the lower jaw by a string enabling movement. British Museum EA 38540

AN 1478989001 Child’s leather shoe, probably Roman Period after 30 BC Shoe for the left foot of a child, made of leather, with rounded toe, complete with sole and upper, stitched together, flattened and cracked at heel, upper bound at top. British Museum EA 4406 AN 1478961 Pair of child’s sandals, New Kingdom, about 1550–1070 BC Sandals are often found in tombs. They are usually made of woven reeds or wood, but this pair is made of leather. Sandals were often a sign of wealth, and many adults and children are depicted barefoot in ancient Egyptian art. British Museum EA 26780

All images: © The Trustees of the British Museum