Posture Guide 
2nd cent. BCE, Ptolemaic period 
17 cm ~ Egyptian faience 

 The late Ptolemaic period saw renewed interest among Egyptian women in classical posture training. This piece is one of a series aimed at new mothers which was put out by the Fran-Kln Mint in response to the sudden demand. Upper-class women were assured that by imitating the statuettes in the series they could regain the youthful spring in their step and erect carriage that they knew as youths. 

Here we have the mother of a young child balancing a bound book upon her head as one of the exercises.  Other statuettes depicted the Glide Method of Elegant Walking, Sweeping Gestures for Receiving Guests of Rank, and Graceful Whip Movements for Disciplining Household Help.