Egyptian shabti for Ity, vizier of Thebes, New Kingdom, late 18th Dynasty, c.1323-1295 BC
Basalt
Height: 15.8cm
9767 TA
P.O.A.
Further images
Standing on a thin integral base, wearing a tripartite echeloned wig and the costume of daily life (a pleated ankle-length linen garment). Hands crossed over the chest, holding a djed...
Standing on a thin integral base, wearing a tripartite echeloned wig and the costume of daily life (a pleated ankle-length linen garment). Hands crossed over the chest, holding a djed pillar and a tyet (girdle of Isis). An incised column of hieroglyphs to the front of the robe and five horizontal lines of text from Chapter 6 of the Book of the Dead, known as 'The Shabti Spell', running around the sides and back. The figure is expertly carved to show the curvature of the body and legs beneath the dress. The toes have toenails and the face is extremely fine. The left arm restored at the shoulder, a small loss to the front right of the wig.
This shabti was likely fired after carving, giving the steatite a basalt-like appearance. This type of shabti was popular in the 18th and 19th Dynasties, reflecting the fashions worn by the Egyptian elite of the time. Rather than holding the typical agricultural implements, the deceased were shown with divine attributes.
This shabti was likely fired after carving, giving the steatite a basalt-like appearance. This type of shabti was popular in the 18th and 19th Dynasties, reflecting the fashions worn by the Egyptian elite of the time. Rather than holding the typical agricultural implements, the deceased were shown with divine attributes.
