Egypt, Late Dynastic to Ptolemaic Period, ca. 664 to 30 BCE. A lovely faience ushabti with finely delineated facial features as he stands mummiform atop an integral plinth with liberal remains of hieroglyphs adorning his body. He holds a pick and hoe in hands crossed atop the chest and has a seed bag incised behind the left shoulder. A tripartite wig frames his visage which is comprised of heavy-lidded eyes, a naturalistic nose, fleshy lips, and prominent ears with a false beard extending from the chin. The soft blue glaze enveloping the figure would have been a reference to the Nile and the heavens, thus representing the universe, creation, and fertility. Size: 1.5" W x 6" H (3.8 cm x 15.2 cm); 6.3" H (16 cm) on included custom stand.

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 New York, New York, USA collection; ex-Bruce Ralston collection, USA

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#178289

Light surface wear with softening of detail as shown, but otherwise intact and excellent. Nice remaining pigment.