A good green glazed faience ushabti, finely moulded in mummiform, wearing a tripartite wig and plaited divine beard. The face is beautifully defined with incised mouth, large almond shaped eyes and faint ears. The arms are crossed on the chest, hands protude from a shroud to hold a flail in each fist, the right hand also holding a twisted rope connected to an seed sack behind the left shoulder. Horizontal bands of incised text cover the lower chest and legs that reads: "(1) Illuminate the Osiris Psamtik, born of Amenirdis! He says: "O (2) you shabti! If one should assign the Osiris Psamtik, true of (3) voice, born of Amenirdis, to do any work that needs to be done there in the necropolis, (4) once obstacles have been removed there from a man at his duties, (5) 'Here I am!' you shall say. And if one should assign (6) you at any time to do [work] there -- to cultivate (7) fields, to irrigate riverbanks, or to transport (8) sand of the East to the West or vice versa -- 'Here (9) I am!' you shall say.". Shallow dorsal pillar at back.
Shabti were figures placed in ancient Egyptian tombs in order to serve the deceased in the afterlife. They hold objects (in this case flails and a basket) that they will use to work, and are carved with inscriptions; usually a passage from the Book of the Dead.
Condition: Small loss to tip of nose, otherwise the shabti is in excellent condition with no cracks or breaks. Some age appropriate surface wear to the glaze that does not detract. Mounted.
Dimensions: height 7 inches (18 centimeters)
Provenance: Acquired from Harmer Rourke, NY in early 1980's thereafter in a private NJ collection.
