Nefertiti was the great royal wife of pharaoh Akhenaten. The discovery of her stucco coated limestone bust in 1912 was the beginning of a career as a global icon, used for a wide variety of purposes. The silhouette alone of this powerful Ancient Egyptian queen was recognized and admired around the world, from National Socialists and nationalists in Egypt and Bengal, to prominent Black figures such as Elijah Muhammad and Beyoncé.  

​Immediately after its first exhibition in Berlin in 1924, Egypt unsuccessfully demanded its restitution. Still today, the bust is the must-see museum piece of the New Museum in Berlin. Against a global backdrop, historian Sebastian Conrad showcases the stunning object’s fame and the often-controversial issues and debates in which it has been embroiled. He argues that the story of Nefertiti’s trajectory offers insights into the changing shape of globalization from the era of imperialism until now.