1989.342

Ancient Egyptian turquoise faience ushabti, with dark blue detailing, colours common on 30th Dynasty ushabtis; he holds two hoes. Hieroglyphics on his front translate as 'Mut En Akt'. 1500 - 30 B.C. Egyptian faience is a glass-like substance made from sand or quartz and a binding liquid. This created a natural glaze when heated that could be coloured using copper salts, giving the distinctive blue and green colours. Ancient Egyptians believed that they would have to do farming work during their afterlife, so a 'shabti', a small figurine often holding an agricultural tool, was placed in the tomb. The shabti represented a servant who would magically come to life and work for their master, so he or she could relax.

30th Dynasty

Mut En Akt