What is a mummiform ushabti?

A mummiform ushabti is a mummy-shaped funerary figure meant to work for the deceased in the afterlife.

What materials are used to make this ushabti?

The ushabti is made of glazed blue-green faience, a ceramic material.

What do the agricultural implements held by the ushabti signify?

The tools represent the ushabti's role as a laborer for the deceased in the afterlife.

What is the historical period of this ushabti?

The ushabti is from Egypt's Late Period, around 600-300 BC.

What is the significance of the tripartite wig and false beard on the ushabti?

They symbolize royalty and divinity, linking the ushabti to Osiris and the afterlife.

What is the size and condition of this ushabti?

It is 17 cm tall and in excellent condition despite age-related wear.

Where does this ushabti originate from?

It comes from ancient Egypt and was previously in a Jerusalem private collection.

An Egyptian Ceramic Ushabti with Inscription

Description

A finely modeled turquoise-green faience shabti depicting the deceased in mummiform form, wearing a tripartite wig and false beard. The arms are crossed over the chest holding agricultural implements, while the reverse bears a modeled seed basket and prominent back pillar.

The lower body bears a single vertical column of hieroglyphs enclosed within a rectangular border. The inscription appears to be an abbreviated funerary text identifying the deceased and invoking his status as an Osiris—the deceased assimilated with Osiris in the afterlife. It likely includes the customary epithet mꜣꜥ-ḫrw, meaning “true of voice” or “justified,” signifying that the deceased had successfully passed divine judgment. The personal name is not securely readable from the surviving signs.

Shabtis were placed in Egyptian tombs as magical servants, intended to answer for the deceased and undertake agricultural labor required in the afterlife. The figure retains substantial areas of its original turquoise glaze, with burial deposits and surface wear consistent with age.

REFERENCE #

SI-EG-1069

CIVILIZATION

Egypt, ca. 600 BC – 400 BC

SIZE

H. 17 cm

CONDITION

Excellent condition

PRICE

Por

PROVENANCE

Jerusalem Private Collection

Frequently Asked Questions

A mummiform ushabti is a funerary figurine modeled in the shape of a mummy, often depicted with crossed arms and holding agricultural tools. These figures served as worker-substitutes for the deceased in the afterlife, performing manual labor on their behalf.

This ushabti is made from faience, a glazed non-clay ceramic material, characterized by its mottled blue-green surface. The glaze and mineral efflorescence indicate its age and burial conditions.

The hoe and pick held by the ushabti symbolize its role as a laborer in the afterlife, tasked with agricultural work to support the deceased. These tools are traditional attributes marking the figure's function as a worker-substitute.

This ushabti dates from approximately 600 BC to 300 BC, placing it in the Late Period of ancient Egypt, a time known for continued use of traditional funerary practices.

The tripartite wig and false beard are traditional royal and divine symbols in ancient Egyptian art, often used to idealize the figure and associate it with Osiris, the god of the afterlife, reinforcing the ushabti's protective and servile role.

The ushabti measures 17 cm in height and is reported to be in excellent condition, with surface wear and mineral deposits consistent with its age and burial environment.

This ushabti originates from ancient Egypt and was part of a private collection in Jerusalem before being referenced in the current catalog.

An Egyptian Ceramic Ushabti with Inscription