Shabti of Tanetamun

Turquoise glazed faience shabti wearing a tripartite wig with widely spaced striations added in black. The arms are crossed right over left above the waist, and the hands hold a pair of hoes added in black in varying degrees of clarity. The face is summarily modelled. Eyes are added as black dots. A vertical column of inscription on the front names the owner as Tanetamun. The back bears an inscription designating this figure to be an ‘overseer’ as Great of Ten. This shabti was in charge of ten worker shabtis in the role of an ‘overseer.’ Transliteration and translation of the inscription: Wsir tA-n.t-Imn aA mDw, "The Osiris, Tanetamun. Great of Ten." This shabti is dated to the Third Intermediate Period, 21st Dynasty, by Schlögl, H & Brodbeck, A (Ägyptische Totenfiguren aus öffentlichen und privaten sammlungen der Schweiz, Göttingen, 1990), but, in view of the title Great of Ten, perhaps a New Kingdom date is preferred. By the Third Intermediate Period the true ‘overseer’ shabti with the dress of daily life was well established. In 1967 it was marked with the Temporary Number 1967.195.7