Shabti

Mummiform wooden shabti wearing a plain tripartite wig painted bluish–black except for the lower edges of the lappets that are yellow with red horizontal lines. The arms are crossed right over left on the chest. Implements are not indicated being carried in the hands. A square–hatched basket is painted behind the right shoulder in red on a yellow ground. This was presumably mirrored behind the left shoulder, but any traces have been eroded. An elaborate wesekh–collar is painted on top of the arms comprising of three strands of red and black drop–shaped beads. The collar is very faded on the left side of the figure. The face, although somewhat worn, has a pleasant expression. Eyes with brows appear to have been added in black. The body of the shabti has six horizontal lines of a black painted inscription upon a yellow ground that is framed with red lines. The area below the rear lappet of the wig is painted white, with a vertical column extending down to the feet that are also painted white. The vertical white column has a black line in the centre. The inscription gives a version of Chapter 6 of the Book of the Dead, but unfortunately the name of the owner, which would precede it, is illegible due to the text begin badly worn, particularly on the front of the shabti. Transliteration and translation of the inscription: sHD Wsir ... Dd.f i SAwAb.ty ... iry Hsb ... m ... Xr.t-nTr is.tw ... sDb.w? s Xr.t ? ... smH.yt ... imn.tt [r] iAb.tt .., "The illuminated one, the Osiris, … he speaks: O, shabti … if [one] reckons, … the realm of the dead, now indeed … obstacles are implanted, as a man at [his] duties … irrigate … west to east". Label stuck to the back of the wig reads: PN/- Ushabtiu BC 1800. Very fine example with hieroglyphics part of the book of the Dead."