It is a painted limestone statue, the eyes inlaid with rock crystal, magnesite (magnesium carbonate), copper-arsenic alloy, and nipples made of wood.

The back side of the crystal was covered with a layer of organic material which at the same time gives the blue colour to the iris and serves as an adhesive.

The sculpture of the seated scribe was discovered in Saqqara on 19 November 1850, to the north of the Serapeum's line of sphinxes by French archeologist Auguste Mariette.

The semicircular base of the sculpture suggests that it originally fitted in a larger piece of rock which presumably carried its name and title.

Certain stylistic characteristics, unusual thin lips, broad chest and the posture of the torso might support this theory.

[1] Many pharaohs and high-ranking officials would have their servants depicted in some form of image or sculpture so that when they went to the afterlife they would be able to utilize their skills to help them in their second life.

"[2] Scribes were used for multitude of things involving everyday Egyptian life, they would be used as tax collectors and were in charge of organizing personnel for activities such as mining, trade and war.

Scribes were also used to work on projects like pyramid building and helped communicate between the rulers and the Egyptian people.