Late Period, 664-332 BC. A glazed composition shabti with tripartite wig and false beard, hand-tools held in crossed hands and seed-bag to the shoulder, ten rows of hieroglyphic text from Chapter Six (the ‘Shabti Chapter') of the Book of the Dead on the lower body, dorsal pillar and base. See The Metropolitan Museum, accession number 66.99.189, for a similar shabti; see The British Museum, museum number EA56580, for a similar shabti. 96 grams, 15cm (6"). From the private collection of Antony John Scammell (1937-2019); acquired on the UK art market from 1960-2000. Antony John Scammell (1937-2019) was born, and lived his entire life, in the city of Bristol, England. Already from an early age he was enthralled by history and the heroes that it created. While serving overseas with the British Army, Antony began collecting coins and banknotes and this led to collecting a variety of different items throughout his life. From the early 1960s onward, Antony invested in acquiring ancient artefacts. Antony's vast collections started with Egyptian antiquities, but soon branched into Greek and Roman civilisations. The Roman civilisation fascinated him most and, when family commitments allowed, archaeological digs were coordinated in the west of England. These digs uncovered numerous artefacts, many of which were donated to local museums. In retirement, the collecting continued apace, branching into UK coins, British Empire banknotes and fossils. Placed in the tombs of the deceased, shabtis were funerary figurines which awaited the instruction of the deceased in the afterlife; the inscription born by the figure often related to the type of task it might be called upon to undertake.

Very fine condition.