Sculpture Nefertiti of Berlin

Further Reading on the Work

Is the Bust of Nefertiti Real or Fake?

For decades, the bust of Nefertiti has been the subject of controversy regarding its authenticity. Some researchers have raised the possibility of a hoax in Egyptology, suggesting that the German archaeologist Ludwig Borchardt, who discovered it in 1912 at Amarna, may have promoted a modernized artifact. Scientific analyses (X-rays, pigment studies), however, confirm the age of the limestone and the Amarna style. The work thus remains recognized as authentic, even though Egypt continues to demand its return.

Where is the bust of Nefertiti located in the Berlin museum?

The bust of Nefertiti is on display at the Neues Museum on Museum Island (Museumsinsel) in Berlin, accessible from the James-Simon-Galerie. It occupies a central position in the Nordkuppelsaal, the North Dome Hall, which was specially designed to showcase its splendor. It is in this setting-restored since the museum's reopening in 2009-that the Egyptian queen welcomes millions of visitors from around the world each year.

Why is the bust of Nefertiti in Berlin?

Discovered in 1912 in Amarna by the German archaeologist Ludwig Borchardt, the bust left Egypt as part of the division of the excavation finds with Germany, which had funded the research. Unveiled to the public in Berlin in 1924, it became one of the Neues Museum's most iconic artifacts. Since then, Egypt has regularly called for its return, arguing that this depiction of the Amarna royal family is part of its national heritage.