Egyptian Ushabtis [ without thumbnail images ]
First, let's answer a few questions.
Ushabtis are small funerary figurines that were buried with a person to act as a worker in the afterworld in place of the deceased. They first appeared about 2000 BC and are made from wood, terracotta, stone, or faience (glazed powdered quartz). The examples here range in size from 106 mm (4 1/8 inches) to 46 mm (just 1 3/4 inches). Two of the pictured ushabtis are of recent manufacture purchased on a trip to Luxor and Cairo. The first and last pieces pictured below are examples of what is being offered on the internet and even some antiquities stores (one in New York city immediately comes to mind. Please use caution when buying from any unknown dealer. ALL ushabtis currently offered for sale in Egypt are fake as it has been illegal to sell real ones for many years and the penalties are quite severe. All of the real specimens offered here are from older collections and were legally exported prior to the current restrictions.
Decent, affordable specimens are becoming very difficult to find. Here are fifteen pieces for your consideration priced from 80 US$ to 255 US$.
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Egyptian Ushabti,
ca early to mid 20th century AD height: 12.7 cm (5 inches) width: 3.9 cm (at widest point) These come in all sizes and conditions. Be careful buying any antiquities. This piece had been in a collection for 60 years, purchased in Aswan, Egypt. |
Not for sale |
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Egyptian Ushabti, ca 664 - 343 BC,
Dynasty XXVI - XXX Pale aqua/brown faience pressed mummiform with lappet wig, hoe and pick. Fully intact with weak column of hieroglyphs down front of legs. This piece is out of a Danish collection. |
$245.00 |
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Egyptian Ushabti, ca 664 - 343 BC,
Dynasty XXVI - XXX Pale aqua/brown faience pressed mummiform with lappet wig, hoe and pick. Fully intact with weak column of hieroglyphs down front of legs. This piece is out of a Danish collection. |
$240.00 |
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Egyptian Ushabti, ca 664 - 343 BC,
Dynasty XXVI - XXX Pale aqua/brown faience pressed mummiform with lappet wig, hoe and pick. Minor ding on foot pedestal otherwise fully intact with weak column of hieroglyphs down front of legs. This piece is out of a Danish collection. |
$240.00 |
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Egyptian Ushabti, ca 664 - 343 BC,
Dynasty XXVI - XXX Tan/brown faience pressed mummiform with lappet wig, hoe and pick. Minor dings and bumps otherwise fully intact with weak column of hieroglyphs down front of legs. This piece is out of a Danish collection. |
$225.00 |
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Egyptian Ushabti, ca 664 - 343 BC,
Dynasty XXVI - XXX Pale blue/green faience pressed mummiform with lappet wig, hoe and pick. Defect in legs (probably something in mold when pressed) otherwise beautiful glaze and fully intact with weak column of hieroglyphs down front of legs. This piece is out of a Danish collection. |
$255.00 |
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Egyptian Ushabti, ca 664 - 343 BC,
Dynasty XXVI - XXX |
$205.00 |
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Egyptian Ushabti, ca 664 - 343 BC,
Dynasty XXVI - XXX This piece is out of a Danish collection. |
$185.00 |
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Egyptian Ushabti, ca 664 - 343 BC,
Dynasty XXVI - XXX This piece is out of a Danish collection. |
$145.00 |
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Egyptian Ushabti, ca 664 - 343 BC,
Dynasty XXVI - XXX This piece is out of a Danish collection. |
$145.00 |
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Egyptian Ushabti, ca 664 - 343 BC,
Dynasty XXVI - XXX This piece is out of a Danish collection. |
$145.00 |
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Egyptian Ushabti, ca 664 - 343 BC,
Dynasty XXVI - XXX This piece came from an old Swiss private collection. |
$95.00 |
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Egyptian Ushabti, ca 664 - 343 BC,
Dynasty XXVI - XXX This piece came from an old Swiss private collection. |
$95.00 |
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Egyptian Ushabti, ca 664 - 343 BC,
Dynasty XXVI - XXX This piece came from an old Swiss private collection. |
$95.00 |
 |
Egyptian Ushabti, ca 664 - 343 BC,
Dynasty XXVI - XXX This piece came from an old Swiss private collection. |
$95.00 |
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Egyptian Ushabti, ca 664 - 343 BC,
Dynasty XXVI - XXX This piece came from an old Swiss private collection. |
$80.00 |
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Egyptian Ushabti, ca
early 21st century AD height: 6.2 cm (2 1/8 inches) width: 2.1 cm (at widest point) These come in all sizes and conditions. Be careful buying any antiquities. Purchased as an imitation in Luxor, Egypt for under $5. Don't buy similar pieces as authentic!! |
Not for sale |