Ancient Egyptian Faience Shabti. 9,5 cm H. 30th Dynasty, 378 - 341 BC.

Shabti figures are ancient Egyptian funerary statuettes placed in tombs among the grave goods and intended to act as servants for the deceased in the afterlife. Faience is a glazed non-clay ceramic material popular in Egypt due to its lustrous, blue-green finish reminiscent of turquoise, symbolic of rebirth and fertility. This particular shabti dates to the 30th Dynasty of Egypt (circa 378–341 BC), a period noted for its revival of earlier artistic traditions. At 9.5 cm tall, this faience shabti would have been part of the grave equipment provided to assist the deceased with agricultural tasks in the afterlife, highlighting ancient Egyptian beliefs about death and the hereafter. The use of faience and the figurine's detailed craftsmanship offer important insights into both religious practices and ceramic techniques of the late Pharaonic period.