Shabti of Ta-iyt

Blue glazed faience mummiform shabti wearing a plain tripartite wig with a seshed headband tied at the back added in black. A pair of small breasts are defined in the modelling below the front lappets of the wig. The arms are crossed right over left above the waist. The hands are not clenched in a fist as is commonly found on shabtis, but they are modelled open on the lower chest. The hands hold a pair of small hoes added in black. A square–hatched basket with shoulder straps is painted on the back. The face is rounded in shape with eyes and eyebrows added in black. A vertical column of a painted inscription on the front of the figure reads: ‘The Osiris, Ta-iyt” (although this reading of the name is very uncertain). There are two shabtis for this owner in our collection and so far no other parallels have been found in other museums or collections.