Ushebti. Ancient Egypt, Late Period, 664–323 B.C.

Ushebti. Ancient Egypt, Late Period, 664–323 B.C.
Faience.
Provenance: acquired from the expert P. Laporte, France, in 1985; private collection, southern France.
In good condition, no restorations.
Measurements: 15 cm tall.

This ushabti belongs to a type that was widely produced during the Late Period, when these funerary figures were crafted with particular care and featured a well-established iconography. The figure is mummy-shaped, with a three-part wig and arms crossed over the chest, holding agricultural tools related to its role as a substitute worker for the deceased in the afterlife.

The front is inscribed with several vertical lines of hieroglyphs in relief. Although a precise reading would require direct examination, this type of inscription typically identified the owner and included an abbreviated version of the formula intended to magically activate the ushabti when summoned to perform labor in the fields of Osiris.

The blue-green hue of the glaze served more than just an ornamental purpose. In Egyptian thought, it was associated with vegetation, water, and regeneration—concepts closely linked to the promise of the deceased’s rebirth. The figure’s height allows for a clear view of both the rendering of the face and the layout of the inscription, which has been preserved without any restoration work.

Designed to act on behalf of its owner, the ushabti combined writing, imagery, and ritual efficacy in a small object. In this example, the inscription covers a large portion of the body, making the figure a particularly eloquent testament to the importance accorded to the written word within Egyptian funerary practices.