Ancient Egyptian Artifact – Blue-Glazed Shabti 525-332BC

Description

Heading: Ancient Egyptian Artifact – Blue-Glazed Shabti with hieroglyphics

Material: Faience, blue glazed

Period: Late period

Date: 525-332BC

Origin: Egypt

Condition: Fine

Description: The upper section of a green-blue shabti figure, with folded arms, holding crook and flail, wearing a wig and false beard, the hieroglyphics runs down the front and back of the figure. The base is missing and the broken base has been placed in foam to allow for display if you wish. According to specialist Paul Whelan – the hieroglyphics on the front have been determined to be: ‘To illuminate, the Osiris….’ this would have been followed by the name and possibly the title of the deceased on the now absent portion. On the back it reads ‘True of voice(?), born to Ami-Tar(?) the mother’s name being incomplete and difficult to decipher.

Size and Weight: 78mm high, 51g

Features and Provenance: This piece has been the property of two London collections since the 70’s.

Shabti were human-like figures buried with the deceased as a servant in the afterlife. Everyone had to help with the farming, so these figures were added to do the job for you, indeed, they are depicted with implements such as hoes, picks and baskets. The higher the status of the deceased, the more servants you had, sometimes numbering up to 400. They were made from wood, stone or fine glazed pottery (faience) as is our example.

Condition Summary. This varies with the age of the artefact and there are grades between

Extremely Fine (EF). Very slight traces of wear, all parts of pattern etc present, visible and clear

Very Fine (VF). Some signs of wear on the higher parts of the relief, all parts of pattern etc present, but may be worn

Fine (F). Wear on the artefact and parts of item and pattern etc may be missing or not visible