**Originally Listed At $400**

Ancient Egypt, Late Period, ca. 664 to 30 BCE. A rare and large example of a classic Egyptian artifact! This is the upper body and head of a faience ushabti (shabti), broken off just below the hands, so that the twin agricultural implements the figure holds are clearly visible. It is painted overall with a very pretty pale blue surface, made by adding copper to the faience mix. Size: 1.6" L x 2.65" W x 3.9" H (4.1 cm x 6.7 cm x 9.9 cm)

Aside from its large size, the features are standardized and in line with Late Period production of these items, with a back pillar and a mummiform face with nemes and false beard. Ushabti were placed in tombs as grave goods, created to do manual labor for the deceased in the afterlife. As a result, they are frequently depicted with arms crossed, holding hoes and baskets. Towards the end of the Pharaonic period, they 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. Workers like this one are from that period of enormous proliferation, and are some of our best surviving insights into ancient Egyptian funerary practices.

Provenance: Ex-Hagar Collection, St. Louis, MO

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#120011

A fragment as shown, with the bottom half lost. Repaired from multiple pieces.