Five Ancient Egyptian faience shabtis

Shabti with hieroglyphs: 3"
Two shabtis: 1 7/8" and 1 1/8"
Head fragment: 1 3/8"
Bird: 1 1/2"

Ancient Egyptian Shabtis
(Source: nationaltrust.org.uk) A shabti (also known as shawabti or ushabti) is a generally mummiform figurine of about 5 - 30 centimeters found in many ancient Egyptian tombs. They are commonly made of blue or green glazed Egyptian faience, but can also consist of stone, wood, clay, metal, and glass. The meaning of the Egyptian term is still debated, however one possible translation is ‘answerer’, as they were believed to answer their masters call to work in the afterlife.

Only since the Twelfth Dynasty (1985–1773 BC), when their name is documented in texts, can funerary figurines be called shabti. At the beginning, they represented their owners.

According to Egyptian belief, the conservation of the body was essential, as without a functioning body the deceased could not survive in the afterlife. The shabti therefore acted as a surrogate in case their master’s mummy was damaged, guaranteeing his or her eternal life. Because of this intimate relationship, the deceased was only buried with one or two of these figurines.

Good condition overall