Egypt, from Tel Assassif, Third Intermediate Period, 22nd Dynasty, ca. 943 to 716 BCE. Comprised of a brilliantly blue glazed faience, a superb ushabti presenting a finely modeled and detailed face and wearing a striated tripartite wig, standing in the traditional mummiform pose with arms folded across the chest. The ushabti holds agricultural implements in both hands; a black netted seed sack is painted on the back, and a vertical hieroglyphic band down the front legs is inscribed "Amenemope, priest of Amun." Size: 4" H (10.2 cm); 5.125" H (13 cm) on included lucite block base.

This ushabti is dedicted to Amenemope, an ancient Egyptian author of a text entitled, "The Instruction of Amenemope" which scholars believe was written during the late New Kingdom (1300 to 1075 BCE). The content of this book - a collection of admonitions and maxims - was similar to what is known as "wisdom" or "instruction" literature written earlier. Some have drawn parallels and/or argued about the relationship between Amenomope's work and the Hebrew Book of Proverbs.

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, which was required by all members of society, from workers to pharaohs. 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.

Compare to similar examples from the same cache in J. F. & L. Aubert; Les Statuaires Egyptiennes: Chaouabtis-Ouchabtis, Paris, 1973, pl. 41.

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection, acquired 10 to 15 years ago from the New York trade

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#131238

Expected surface wear with minor abrasions. Small, old divot to back of wig. Some repainting/restoration to the arms. Label with handwritten inventory number on underside of lucite base.