Egypt, Third Intermediate Period, ca. 1070 to 712 BCE. This is a very fine example of an ushabti (shabti) with a deep blue faience coating and some black decoration and writing. It has its arms crossed over its chest and is holding hoes (for a clearer photo of a shabti holding hoes in the similar manner, see the Faience shabti of Sety I on the British Museum website). Many, like this one, are inscribed with pleas to Osiris. Size: 1.7" W x 4.6" H (4.3 cm x 11.7 cm)

This is an ushabti (shabti) with a deep blue faience coating and some black decoration. It has its arms crossed over its chest and is holding hoes (for a clearer photo of a shabti holding hoes in the similar manner, see the Faience shabti of Sety I on the British Museum website). Shabti (or ushabti) dolls are figures shaped like adult male or female mummies wearing traditional ancient Egyptian headdresses. The ancient Egyptians believed that after they died, their spirits would have to work in the "Field of Reeds" owned by the god of the underworld, Osiris. This meant doing agricultural labor -- and it was required by all members of society, from workers to pharaohs. The wealthier nobility in Egyptian society were able to have shabtis made of faience; blue faience was meant to reflect the color of the river Nile both on earth and in the afterlife. During later periods, people from the middle class also seem to have gained access to ushabti.

Provenance: Ex-Private Florida collection

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