Shabti of Tent-ta-miw

56.21.440

Information

A mummiform worker shabti inscribed for Tenttamew. The shabti figure wears a plain tripartite wig with with a seshed headband tied at the back added in black. The arms are crossed left over right above the waist, and the hands hold a pair of hoes that are modelled in relief and painted black. A square–hatched rectangular basket with shoulder straps is painted on the back of the figure. The face is poorly defined, with eyes with brows added in black. A vertical column of hierolgyphs on the front reads: “The Osiris, Tent– ta–mew justified”. Presumably the ancient Egyptian word for the domestic cat was an onomatopoeia vocalised as ‘miaow.’ Given to Norwich Castle Museum by A. H. Saxton in 1932 who had purchased it in Egypt in 1931. CONDITION NOTE 1998: Discoloured, worn, surface loss, surface dirt, label adhered to surface.