Altes Ägypten, 21. Dynastie Fayence Ushabti für einen Priester des Amun - 80 mm

"Ancient Egyptian Faience Ushabti for a Priest of Amun
Culture / Period: Ancient Egyptian, 21st Dynasty (Third Intermediate Period)
Date / Period: Circa 1077–943 B.C.
Material: Faience
Dimensions: 80 mm
Condition: Good condition; the upper part of the head is missing some glaze

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Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 41

The current owner purchased the Ancient Egyptian faience ushabti for a priest of Amun from a private collector, V.P., in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
The previous owner, a private collector from Rotterdam, stated that the object had been in his collection since an unknown date.
According to the previous owner, the object had previously been in the gallery Anubis Ancient Art in the Netherlands since the 1960s/1970s.
No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object is available.

Background Information:
This faience ushabti represents a funerary servant figure intended to accompany the deceased into the afterlife. Ushabtis were placed in tombs throughout ancient Egypt and were believed to magically perform agricultural and manual labour on behalf of the deceased in the next world. Typically depicted in mummiform shape, these figures often hold implements such as hoes and carry seed bags, symbolising their role as workers in the fields of the afterlife.

The present example is associated with a priest of Amun, indicating a connection to one of the most important religious institutions of ancient Egypt. Amun was a major deity whose cult rose to prominence in Thebes during the New Kingdom and remained influential into the Third Intermediate Period. As a creator god and king of the gods, Amun was closely linked to power, kingship, and divine authority. Priests serving in his temples formed a powerful and wealthy elite, especially during the 21st Dynasty, when the political authority in Egypt was divided and the priesthood of Amun held significant regional control in Upper Egypt.

The 21st Dynasty (circa 1077–943 B.C.), part of the Third Intermediate Period, represents a time of political fragmentation following the New Kingdom. While pharaohs ruled from Tanis in the Nile Delta, the High Priests of Amun effectively governed Thebes and surrounding regions. This dual system of power is reflected in funerary practices, which remained elaborate and deeply rooted in religious tradition. Ushabtis from this period often display careful craftsmanship and were produced in considerable numbers, sometimes forming large sets intended to ensure the deceased would be fully provided for in the afterlife.

Faience, the material of this figure, is a non-clay ceramic composed primarily of crushed quartz with a glazed surface, typically in blue or green tones symbolising rebirth and regeneration. Its luminous appearance made it especially suitable for funerary objects associated with eternity and renewal. The production of faience objects followed well-established techniques within specialised workshops, demonstrating the organised nature of Egyptian craftsmanship.

Such ushabtis were widely distributed across Egypt and are found in tombs of both elite and more modest individuals, reflecting the broad adoption of funerary beliefs centred on the afterlife. This example provides a direct and tangible connection to ancient Egyptian religious practices, where objects of this kind played an essential role in ensuring eternal life and service beyond death."