**First Time At Auction**

Ancient Egypt, Third Intermediate Period, 21st to 25th Dynasty, ca. 1069 to 664 BCE. A hand-carved limestone ushabti of tall mummiform presentation with bound legs and tapered feet. The stylized figure presents with arms crossed atop the chest and holding a pair of agricultural implements, a seed bag painted in red behind the right shoulder, and additional red pigment creating the flesh hue for the face. Black pigment embellishes the eyes and lips while the sharp nose and full cheeks round out the countenance, all in front of a black-painted wig. Three bars of inscribed hieroglyphs wrap around the legs to meet a fourth, vertical bar of hieroglyphs along the back of the legs. Size: 2" L x 2.4" W x 7.375" H (5.1 cm x 6.1 cm x 18.7 cm)

Shabti (or ushabti) dolls are figures shaped like adult male or female mummies wearing the traditional ancient Egyptian tripartite wigs/headdresses, posed with crossed arms, and holding agricultural implements. 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 pedestrian workers to elite Pharaohs. The hieroglyphic inscriptions typically reflected their 'call' as servants for the deceased who would perform manual tasks in the afterlife. Referred to as 'answerers', these figures would have inscriptions covering their legs assuring Osiris that they were prepared to respond to his call to work, and this example features extensive passages all around the figure.

Provenance: private B.P. collection, McKinleyville, California, USA, purchased in 1973; ex-Mohamed Abdel-Rahim El-Shaer, Cairo, Egypt

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#184840

Light fading to pigment, with softening to some finer details and hieroglyphs, and small nicks and abrasions in scattered areas, otherwise intact and excellent. Great preservation to facial features and figural form.