Sphinx of Amenhotep III, 1375 BCE

I have found the distinctiveness of the portraiture in Ancient Egypt to be remarkable.  Even without the inscription, the facial features of this faience sphinx would identify it as Amenhotep III. The graceful body of the lion transforms quite naturally into human forearms and hands. In this form, the sphinx combines the protective power of the lion with the royal function of offering to the gods. The even tone of the fine blue glaze and the almost flawless condition of this sculpture make it unique among ancient Egyptian faience statuettes.
The material this is made from is called faience, which is a “material made from powdered quartz covered with a true vitreous coating, usually in a transparent blue or green isotropic glass."  Notably, faience is considerably more porous than glass proper and can be cast in molds to create vessels or objects.  Although not properly pottery, as (until late periods) it contains no clay and instead contains the major elemental components of glass, faience is frequently discussed in surveys of ancient pottery.  So while I am not crazy about the color, the process to make it is kind of cool, and it was very popular in ancient times.
Amenhotep III, the subject of the art, made his greatest contribution to Egyptian culture in maintaining peace and prosperity, which enabled him to devote his time to the arts. Many of the most impressive structures of ancient Egypt were built under his reign and, through military campaigns, he not only strengthened the borders of his land but expanded them. He ruled Egypt with Tiye for 38 years until his death and was succeeded by Amenhotep IV, later known as Akhenaten.  He was the Hadrian of Ancient Egypt, and his building projects still abound.