Shabti of Nesypernub

Culture

Third Intermediate Period, late 21st Dynasty, 1077 BC to 943 BC

Size

14,5 cm without stand

Provenance

Dutch collection since 2021

Ifergan Gallery Ancient Art, Malaga Spain from 2014 – 2021

Classical Archaeology F. Cervera, Spain, until 2014

Private Collection C.R,  France

Description

A beautiful blue faience worker shabti of Nesypernub with two vertical rows of hieroglyphs at the front. The shabti is mummiform with arms folded and holding two hoes. He wears a tripartite wig with black lines. On the back he carries a basket, suspended from two line at the shoulders. Unique is that he wears a amulet (ib) at the front.

Nesypernub was a Theban priest that lived in the 21st dynasty. The ushabti’s for Nesypernub were found at the Priests of Amen Cache at Deir el-Bahari in Western Thebes. The coffin of Nesypernub is in Vienna. Unique for the shabti’s of Nesypernub is that the word ushabti is written in the inscription on the shabti itself. 

The hieroglyphs translate to “O, ushabti called to work in the inundation, the Osiris, the God’s Father of Amen, Nesy-per-nub, justified”.

Shabtis are ancient Egyptian funerary figurines meant to serve the deceased in the afterlife. Usually mummiform and made of faience, clay, wood, or stone, they often carry tools and bear hieroglyphs commanding them to do labor in the fields of Osiris, symbolizing the Egyptian vision of a continued, active life after death. 

In general there are two types of shabti’s: the worker and the overseer. Worker shabtis are the laborers who do the physical work in the afterlife, while overseer shabtis are their supervisors, overseeing the labor and ensuring the deceased’s needs are met. Obviously, there are more worker shabti’s than overseers. Together, they form a miniature workforce, reflecting the Egyptian belief in an afterlife that mirrored earthly work structures.

Publications

The shabtis of Nesy-per-nub, Niek de Haan and Patrice Renaut, second edition 2021, page 86

Egipto Magico catalogue, page 92

Millon & Associés, catalogue june 2007 Archeology, page 5, lot 4

Textual reference in The Amasis Collection of Glenn James, page 99, reference number 32

Exhibited

Ifergan Collection, Málaga, Spain (2018-2020). Pictures available of exhibit.

Condition

Excellent condition. 

Price

€ 4800