Description: Crudely carved shabti in costume of daily life, wood, originally with surface covering of black resin. Hair arranged in tripartite lappet style, figure wears flared, calf length kilt; hands crossed on chest, feet together. No remains of text or indication of implements or baskets clearly visible.
Collector's Marks: On the base is a white paper label with .c 85b written in black, in black directly on base is number 39, remains of adhesive possibly from collector paper labels are one oval mark on base, one rectangular mark with curved corners on lower front of kilt, and small oval on top of kilt.
Cultural Significance: after the Amarna period, shabtis sometimes were represented wearing the dress of daily life rather than being mummiform. Conventionally, Egyptologist call shabtis wearing the kilt, overseer or reis shabtis, although it may only be from Dynasty 20 onwards that such shabtis were designated in this role as indicated by them not only wearing daily dress, but also carrying whips rather than hoes and picks. During Dynasty 19 shabtis made of wood and covered in resin were a common piece of tomb equipment.
Comparanda: Louvre E24204, E24210, ME 1007; British Museum EA8678; National Museums Liverpool 1973.4.59b, 24.9.00.87; Swansea Egypt Centre W471; UCL 39825, 39827, 40016.

Notes:  H. D. Schneider, ‘Shabtis. An introduction to the History of Ancient Egyptian Funerary Statuettes with a Catalogue of the Collection of Shabtis in the National Museum of Antiquities at Leiden’, 3 vols., Leiden 1977. Schneider classification: VIC/W4b

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