Statue of Chnoum-hotep, Cairo, Egypt, 1920-1933

Statue, plaster, of the dwarf chnoum-hotep, a victim of achondroplasia, copy of limestone original, 2000-1000BC

Chnoum-hotep was a court official and chief perfumer during the Egyptian Fifth dynasty (2498-2345 BCE). He experienced a condition called achondroplasia. This hereditary condition causes a type of dwarfism which results in short limbs.

Henry Wellcome did his utmost to acquire objects for his collection. He was not always successful. Undeterred, he would seek permission to have copies made of those objects he could not acquire. This copy was purchased by one of his agents, Captain P Johnston-Saint, in Cairo, Egypt, in 1933. The original dates from 2000-1000 BCE.