Code: 2843
Description: A slender blue faience ushabti, mould-made mummiform figure wearing tripartite wig and with long beard. The hands crossed on chest holding agricultural tools, a seed bag over the left shoulder, and with back pillar and pedestal base. A vertical frontal column of impressed heiroglyphs reads sHD wsir, Psmtk ms n [TA-di-nfr-ib(?)] which can be read as Illuminating the Osiris Psametich[us], born to Ta-di-nefer-ib(?)][lit. the one who gives joy[= lit. ‘good heart’]. A repaired fracture across the lower legs, some minor surface wear and a number of original stress cracks from firing, but sound and complete.
Size: 108 mm/4.2 ins. high
Culture: Egyptian
Date: Late Period, 28th to 30th Dynasty, c. 404-343 B.C.
Provenance: From the collection of Julian Bird (1959-2014), and acquired from London dealer Ancient and Oriental (C.J. Martin) in 2007.
Background: Julian Bird was a passionate collector of Egyptian antiquities, who built up a fine and extensive collection from the 1970s onwards. He sourced his items mainly from the UK market, from specialist dealers, fairs, markets and auctioneers. He was a model collector, carefully documenting his collection, and his notes on this particular item will be supplied to the buyer.
