Egyptian Ushabti Figurine
Sculpture; Funerary Statuette • Ancient Egyptian workshop; anonymous craftsman
Style & Movement
Ancient Egyptian Art (Late Period/Saite-derived style)
Medium & Technique
Faience or Limestone with molded details and hand-finishing
Creation Period
Late Period to Ptolemaic Period (c. 664–30 BC)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 10-15 cm in height; vertical/mummiform format on a modern display base.
Subject Description
A mummiform funerary figurine (ushabti) depicted with crossed arms, wearing a tripartite wig and a divine osiride beard. These figures were placed in tombs to perform manual labor for the deceased in the afterlife.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; exhibiting significant surface erosion, loss of original glaze/pigment, and pitting to the material.
Estimated Market Value
$250 - $600 USD (assuming authenticity as a common Late Period specimen)
Auction Estimate
$200 - $400 USD
Provenance History
Unknown; likely acquired from a private collection or antiquity market in the 20th century. Mounted on a non-original wooden or stone museum-style plinth.
Art Historical Significance
A representative example of mass-produced funerary equipment from the late dynastic Egyptian era; provides insight into the demokratization of afterlife beliefs among the non-royal social classes.
Notable Features
Features the classic 'mummy' pose with hands emerging from the shroud; the lack of visible hieroglyphic inscriptions on the front or back pillar suggests it may be a more modest or unfinished production.
Condition Issues
Advanced weathering of the surface features (effacement of facial features), potential chemical degradation of the glaze (if faience), and minor structural chipping.
Conservation Recommendations
Keep in a stable, low-humidity environment to prevent further salt efflorescence (if ceramic-based); handle with nitrile gloves to avoid transferring skin oils; keep away from direct sunlight.