Egypt, 25th to 26th Dynasty, ca. 626 to 525 BCE. This is green-glazed faience shabti features incised hieroglyphic markings/decoration. It has its arms crossed over its chests and is holding hoes (for a clearer photo of a shabti holding hoes in the similar manner, see the faience shabti of Sety I on the British Museum website). Size with attached custom stand: 2" W x 5" H (5.1 cm x 12.7 cm).

The hieroglyphics on this piece have been translated to say, "Words spoken by the Osiris Pafherihes, son of Djedhor." PafHryHs born of Djedhor was a high personage and good friend of the pharaoh and part of a statue of him can be found in Copenhagen (Carlsberg Glyptothek).

Shabti (or ushabti) dolls are figures shaped like adult male or female mummies wearing the 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 -- and it was required by all members of society, from workers to pharoahs. The more wealthy and nobility in Egyptian society were able to have shabtis made of faience; blue faience was meant to reflect the color of the river Nile both on earth and in the afterlife. The hieroglyphic inscriptions gave the shabti their power, telling Osiris that they were to do work for him.

Provenance: Acquired from a Munich Gentleman, T.S.

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Nearly-invisible repaired break at mid-section.