**First Time At Auction**

Ancient Egypt, New Kingdom to Third Intermediate Period, 20th to 21st Dynasty, ca. 1189 to 943 BCE. A wonderful ushabti built by hand from white faience and covered in layers of lustrous blue-green glaze. The mummiform figure stands upon fused legs and holds a pick and hoe in arms crossed atop the broad chest. The protruding face presents with black-painted features, framed by lengthy black wig lappets. Indecipherable remains of hieroglyphs are inscribed vertically along the body of the ancient figure. Size: 1.2" W x 4" H (3 cm x 10.2 cm)

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 was required by all members of society, from workers to pharaohs. By the Third Intermediate period, this practice had become so necessary and elaborate that some tombs contained one worker for every day of the year and thirty-six overseers, each responsible for ten laborers. The wealthier nobility in Egyptian society were able to have shabtis made of coveted faience, and blue faience was meant to reflect the color of the river Nile both on earth and in the afterlife.

Provenance: private Corpus Christi, Texas, USA estate collection, acquired 1960s to 1970s

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#165232

Collection label on verso. Repair and restoration to base. Expected abrasions and pitting, commensurate with age. Otherwise, excellent with nice remaining pigments.