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Artist/Maker
Unknown artist
Datec. 1070-945 BCE
MediumFaience
DimensionsOverall: 12.1 x 3.8 cm (4 3/4 x 1 1/2 in.)
Credit LineGift of William C. Winslow, Class of 1862
Object numberINV.699
Not on view
DescriptionIn the Egyptian afterlife, everyone was expected to work in the Field of Reeds (or A’aru) for Osiris, the god of death. Shabtis first began appearing in tombs of the Middle Kingdom (ca. 2040 – 1782 B.C.E.), likely evolving from the wooden models of servants and workers that were included in Old and Middle Kingdom burials. At first, they were only mummiform and most were placed in their own coffins. Most remained uninscribed, but some included the name of their owners or fractions of the shabti spell from Chapter 6 of the Book of the Dead. By the New Kingdom, shabtis had come to personify the deceased and perform labor on their behalf in the A’aru. They were made of predominantly clay and faience, and painted with agricultural implements such as sickles, hoes, baskets, and brick molds for working in the A’aru.
Most tombs contain at least a few shabtis. Over time, it became more common to include 365 worker shabtis (one for each day of the year) and 36 overseers (one for every 10 worker shabtis) in wealthier tombs, totaling 401.
This 21st Dynasty shabti (ca. 1070 – 945 B.C.E.) was excavated from Tomb 14B of Cemetery D in Abydos sometime between 1899 – 1902, and donated to the College by William C. Winslow in 1902. Its clear inscription, which reads, “the Illuminated One, the Osiris, Overseer of the Treasury, Pa-her-mer, justified,” attributes this shabti to Pa-her-mer, Overseer of the Treasury. The titles “Overseer of the Treasury” and “Overseer of the Two Treasuries” were quite common from the New Kingdom to the Late Period, though fewer are seen after the 18th Dynasty (ca. 1539 – 1292 B.C.E.). These individuals were often the most important economic administrators, responsible for managing precious resources in the royal storerooms. It can be assumed that Pa-her-mer was a figure of relative importance in Abydos, given the high quality and presumably large number of his shabtis. (Written by Kayley Boddy '22)
Catalogue card from 1960s: "Ushabti - faience. Egyptian, XIX-XXIst Dyns. Gift of: W. C. Winslow, '62. Prov: ?Egypt. Part of foot broken. Neat work. Granular white fabric; turquoise glaze; black paint. Ribs of wig painted; eyes and eyebrows painted; arms crossed, holding hoes; satchel on back; neatly painted columnar inscription. Body naturalistically molded with swelling at hips, offset wig."
Additional Details
Alternate Titles
Shabti
Ushabti
Ushabti
Exhibition History
2011
Clinton, NY. Fred L. Emerson Gallery, Hamilton College. "Learning to Look: Hamilton's Cabinets, Galleries and Museums Past, Present and Future," September 15 - December 16, 2011 (no cat.).
Clinton, NY. Fred L. Emerson Gallery, Hamilton College. "Learning to Look: Hamilton's Cabinets, Galleries and Museums Past, Present and Future," September 15 - December 16, 2011 (no cat.).
Provenance
March 1902: Hamilton College, by gift of William C. Winslow, on behalf of the Egypt Exploration Fund;
1899 - 1901: excavated from Tomb 14B in Cemetery D at Abydos for the Egypt Exploration Fund.
1899 - 1901: excavated from Tomb 14B in Cemetery D at Abydos for the Egypt Exploration Fund.
Markings
No markings noted
Signature
Not signed
Inscribed
Columnar inscription on front in black pigment: “the Illuminated One, the Osiris, Overseer of the Treasury, Pa-her-mer, justified."
Unknown artist
Date: 1070-656 B.C.E.
Medium: Red clay with black pigment
Object number: 1943.104a
Unknown artist
Date: c. 1070-656 B.C.E.
Medium: Red clay with black, yellow, red pigment
Object number: 1943.50
Unknown artist
Date: c. 1186-1070 B.C.E.
Medium: Stone with wash
Object number: 1943.59
Unknown artist
Date: c. 945-715 B.C.E.
Medium: Faience with pigment
Object number: 1943.37
Unknown artist
Date: c. 945-715 B.C.E.
Medium: Faience with pigment
Object number: 1943.34
Unknown artist
Date: 1070-656 B.C.E.
Medium: Red clay with black pigment
Object number: 1943.107d
Unknown artist
Date: 1070-656 B.C.E.
Medium: Red clay with black pigment
Object number: 1943.107c
Unknown artist
Date: 1070-656 B.C.E.
Medium: Red clay with black pigment
Object number: 1943.107b
Unknown artist
Date: 1070-656 B.C.E.
Medium: Red clay with black pigment
Object number: 1943.107e
Unknown artist
Date: 1070-656 B.C.E.
Medium: Red clay with black pigment
Object number: 1943.107a