Shabti of Tjai–Inheret–Imu

Mummiform shabti wearing a striated tripartite wig, and a plaited divine beard. The arms are crossed right over left on the chest, and 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 quite well modelled. The eyes have cosmetic lines and brows indicated in relief. Although damaged the nose is broad. The cheek bones are high and prominent, and the mouth has a slight smile but this is a little misaligned. The shabti stands against a dorsal pillar, and upon a trapezoidal base. The body has ten horizontal bands of incised inscription naming the owner as Tjai–Inheret–Imu, followed by Chapter 6 of the Book of the Dead. Transliteration and translation of the inscription: sHD Wsir (i)r(.y)-pa.(t) HA.(ty)-a sS nsw.t Hsb.t x.t nb.(t) Hm-nTr TA-In-Hr.t-im.w ms (n) Mr-PtH-Hp mAa-xrw i wSb.ty ipn ir ip.tw Wsir r ir(.t) kA.t nb(.t) ir(.t) ? m Xr.t-nTr ist Hw sDb.w im m s r Xrt.f m.k (wi) kA.tn ip tn r nw nb ir(.t) im r srwD sx.t r smH.y wDb.w r Xn.t Say n imn.tt (r) iAb.tt Ts pXr m[.k wi kA.]tn, "The Osiris, the Hereditary noble, the Mayor, the Royal Scribe of the Accounts of all Offerings, the God’s Servant, Tjai–Inheret–Imu, born to Mer–Ptah–Hap, justified: O, these shabtis, if one is counted off, the Osiris (?), to do all the works that are to be done there in the realm of the dead – no indeed obstacles are implanted therewith – as a man at his duties, ‘here I am,’ you shall say at any time to serve there, to cultivate the fields, to irrigate the river banks, to ferry the sand of the west to the east and vice–versa; ‘here I am,’ you shall say". Ex collection of Sir J. Currie donated by D. H. Hanbury in 1941.