Pair of Ancient Egyptian Faience Ushabtis - Servants in the Afterlife Late Period, ca. 664-332 BC A fine pair of faience ushabtis, each depicted in mummiform with the arms crossed over the chest and the lower body enclosed in a close-fitting shroud. Both figures wear tripartite wigs and have schematically modelled facial features. Both are decorated with dark brown painted bands across the head and dark brown outlines of the agricultural tools. Ushabtis were funerary statuettes placed in Egyptian tombs to serve the deceased in the afterlife. Their origins can be traced to the Middle Kingdom, and they remained an important part of Egyptian burial practices for nearly two millennia. According to Egyptian religious belief, the deceased might be summoned to undertake agricultural labour in the Fields of Reeds, an idealised realm of the afterlife. Ushabtis were intended to answer this summons and perform the required tasks in their owner's place. Many were inscribed with a spell, later incorporated as Chapter Six of the Book of the Dead, commanding the figure to respond whenever called upon. Wealthy individuals could be buried with 365 worker figures, corresponding to the days of the year, accompanied by 36 overseer figures. Ushabtis were manufactured in stone, wood, bronze and especially faience, whose blue green colouring was closely associated with regeneration and renewed life. Size: 6cm x 1.5cm x 1cm (set of 2) Provenance: Private European Collection; formerly acquired from old UK and European collection formed since the 1970s. COMBINED SHIPPING We offer combined shipping only for items purchased in the same auction. You need to pay for these together; otherwise, the system will not combine shipping. We don't combine and refund shipping afterwards. SHIPPING WITHIN THE EU ONLY! We ship exclusively to addresses within the European Union. Please ensure that you can provide an EU delivery address before bidding.