Shabti of Sa-iset

Green glazed faience mummiform shabti wearing a striated tripartite wig, and a plaited divine beard. The arms are crossed right over left 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 rope for a basket that is carried behind the left shoulder. The face is fairly well modelled. Cosmetic lines and eyebrows are shown in relief. The figure is supported by a dorsal pillar, and stands upon a trapezoidal base. A vertical column of impressed hieroglyphic inscription on the front of the figure reads: The illuminated one, the Osiris, the imy–(khent), Sa–Iset, son of Wah–ib–Re, born (to) Tje–henet. It appears that this owner had two types of shabti – ones with a vertical column of inscription on the front, like this example, and others with several horizontal bands of inscription giving a version of Chapter 6 of the Book of the Dead. As an imy–khent priest, Sa–Iset would have led the ceremonies and rituals associated with funerals and also in temples. Several shabtis whose owner’s have this title are known to have come from Mendes, so perhaps this can be tentatively be suggested as a provenance.