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Shawabty
Egyptian
New Kingdom, late Dynasty 18–20
1390–1070 B.C.
Medium/Technique
Wood
Dimensions
Height x width: 22.8 x 6.6 cm (9 x 2 5/8 in.)
Credit Line
Hay Collection—Gift of C. Granville Way
Accession Number72.4109
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAncient Egypt, Nubia and the Near East
ClassificationsTomb equipment – Shawabties and shawabty boxes
DescriptionThis shawabty is carved of a dark brown wood coated with a layer of bitumen, the surface of which is flaking. No traces of paint or hieroglyphic inscription are evident. The figure is mummiform in shape with legs of particularly narrow proportions. It wears a tripartite wig with long front lappets. Arms are folded over the chest with no obvious indications of hands. The bitumen layer makes it unclear whether is was intended to be shown holding implements. Its face is in slightly battered condition.
An ancient Egyptian shawabty is a funerary figurine that was intended to magically animate in the Afterlife in order to act as a proxy for the deceased when called upon to tend to field labor or other tasks. This expressed purpose was sometimes written on the shawabty itself in the form of a "Shawabty Spell," of which versions of various length are known. Shorter shawabty inscriptions could also just identify the deceased by name and, when applicable, title(s). However, many shawabtys carry no text at all. The ideal number of such figurines to include in a tomb or burial seems to have varied during different time periods.
An ancient Egyptian shawabty is a funerary figurine that was intended to magically animate in the Afterlife in order to act as a proxy for the deceased when called upon to tend to field labor or other tasks. This expressed purpose was sometimes written on the shawabty itself in the form of a "Shawabty Spell," of which versions of various length are known. Shorter shawabty inscriptions could also just identify the deceased by name and, when applicable, title(s). However, many shawabtys carry no text at all. The ideal number of such figurines to include in a tomb or burial seems to have varied during different time periods.
ProvenanceBy 1836: Robert Hay Collection, Linplum, Scotland; 1863: to his son, Robert James Alexander Hay; 1868-1872: Way Collection, Boston (purchased by Samuel A. Way through London dealers Rollin and Feuardent, 27 Haymarket); 1872: given to the MFA by Samuel's son, C. Granville Way. (Accession date: June 28, 1872)