Shabti of Im-hotep

The upper part of a mummiform shabti wearing a plain tripartite wig and a divine beard that is damaged. The arms are crossed on the chest, and the hands emerge from a shroud to hold a pick in the left and a hoe in the right. The right hand also holds the twisted cord for a basket that is carried behind the left shoulder. The face is square in shape, and the features are simply defined. A broad dorsal pillar is modelled on the back. The body has three horizontal bands of incised inscription, and also the upper part of a fourth. The owner of the shabti is named as Im–hotep. Transliteration and translation of the inscription: sHD Wsir ii-m-Htp ms (n) t(A)-Sry.t-n-BAst.t Dd.f i wSb.ty ipn ir ip.tw r ir(.t) kA.t nb(.t) ir(.t) im m Xr.t-nTr ist Hw sDb.w im m s r..., "The illuminated one, the Osiris, Im–hotep, born (to) T(a)–sheryt–en–Bastet, he speaks: O, these shabtis, if one counts, to do all the works that are to be done there in the realm of the dead– now indeed obstacles are implanted therewith – as a man ..." The object was once pinned on a modern blue glazed base.