Egyptian Ushabti From The Roman Period, Female Figure In Terracotta, 1st Century A.d.

A rare example of the fusion between Pharaonic funerary traditions and artistic influences from the Roman world, this Egyptian ushabti dates to the 1st century A.D.

In ancient Egypt, ushabtis (or shawabtis) were small figurines placed in tombs to accompany the deceased into the afterlife. Their symbolic function was to take the place of the deceased and perform, on their behalf, the labor and tasks that would have been required of them in the afterlife. These statuettes, which were widespread for centuries, are today valuable testimonies to Egyptian religious beliefs and practices.

This piece depicts a standing female figure, made of fired clay/silt, characteristic of certain late-period works. The figure is clad in a form-fitting veil covering the chest, whose rendering subtly reveals the contours of the body, while the lower body is adorned with a loincloth decorated with vertical striations. At the base of the garment is a cartouche accompanied by hieroglyphic elements, some of which have yet to be identified.

The head is covered with a nemes-style veil, an attribute traditionally associated with Egyptian royal and divine imagery. The back of the statuette retains black firing marks, evidence of its terracotta construction. Traces of natron are also visible; this mineral compound is frequently found on Egyptian objects that have spent long periods in a funerary environment.

Dimensions: height 14.4 cm.

This statuette is an interesting example of the transitional period during which Egyptian art retained its ancestral traditions while gradually incorporating influences from the Roman world. It belongs to the last generations of ushabti produced in Egypt, before their gradual disappearance in favor of new religious and funerary concepts.

A charming archaeological piece, at the crossroads of two great civilizations: Pharaonic Egypt and Imperial Rome.

Provenance: Former Belgian collection.

Price excludes shipping costs

Police Registry Ref.: A146

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