Egypt. Late Period. Shabti with ceremonial beard and a grain sack over the left side of the back (664–332 BC). Faience. Height: 12.3 cm. Fragmented and restored. The shabtis were funerary statuettes placed in tombs to accompany the deceased into the afterlife. Shabtis were intended to act as magical servants who would perform agricultural or manual tasks on behalf of their owner when called upon by the gods, ensuring eternal comfort beyond death. Typically represented in mummiform shape, these figures symbolically identify the deceased with Osiris, god of the afterlife, and often bear inscriptions invoking their readiness to “answer” and carry out work in the next world. Produced in various materials including faience, stone, wood, and alabaster, shabtis became an essential element of Egyptian burial practices from the Middle Kingdom onward. Provenance: Ex collection B. Kickx and J. Peeters (Belgium; 1978). The Supplier warrants that he obtained this lot legally. Provenance statement seen by Catawiki. Important information. The seller guarantees that he is entitled to ship this lot. The seller will take care that any necessary permits will be arranged. The seller will inform the buyer about this if this takes more than a few days. Important: For destinations out of Spanish territory: all our objects will be shipped after obtaining CERTIFICATE OF EXPORTATION by Ministry of Culture of Spain. We inform our clients that it may take between 4-8 weeks.