Ca. 664 - 332 B.C. Late Dynastic Period to Ptolemaic Period. Egyptian. An ancient Egyptian mummiform ushabti group wearing a plain tripartite wig; the arms are crossed on the chest; and small hand hold a pick and hoe, faintly modelled in low relief. The Ushabti is flat-backed, and stands upon a trapezoidal base.The Egyptians assumed even after getting to the afterlife that life would not be easy, so they took magical figures with them called shabtis to ask a servant to make their afterlife as easy and trouble-free as possible.The idea of shabtis first appeared as wax figures in the First Intermediate Period. These gradually moved onto figures formed of stone and wood in mummiform shape. By the time of the New Kingdom during the Reign of Thutmose IV these became more stylised and would carry agricultural tools to assist them plough the fields, bring in the harvest and fill in the water channels.These figures were an important object in the tombs of the deceased and by the time of the Third Intermediate Period, tombs would carry them in chests in large supplies. These shabtis would come alive on the command of the dead and were called upon with magic from the Book of the Dead.Janes, Glenn, The Shabtis Collections, (3) Rochdale Arts and Heritage Services, Page 78, pl. 258.17.1 – 258.17.8.Warrington Museum and Art GalleryAccession Number: RA.215 Provenance: From a London private family collection, formerly acquired on the UK art market in the 1960s - 1970s; then passed by descent. Size: L:Set of 7; 40-55mm / W:10-15mm ; 50g