Height: 21.4 cm
Black steatite shabti of Suneru holding his ba to his chest
From Egypt
19th Dynasty, around 1275 BCE
Shabti [AKA Shawabti, Ushabti] figures of the Eighteenth Dynasty (about 1550-1300 BCE) were usually shown in a mummiform state, wearing a heavy wig and holding agricultural implements or funerary symbols in their crossed hands. However, for a period in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Dynasties figures in everyday dress were introduced, a phenomenon also seen in contemporary coffins. However, in the Third Intermediate Period (about 1070-661 BCE), the mummiform shape returned for the 365 figures now normal, although something similar to everyday dress was used for the 36 ‘overseers’.
This shabti wears the style of dress that Suneru would have worn during life. His heavily pleated robe, duplex wig, fine collar and sandals are characteristic of the clothing of the wealthy of the New Kingdom. Instead of agricultural implements, the figure holds a ba bird, representing the personality of the deceased, which was believed to survive after his death.
Via http://bbs.artron.net/viewthread.php?tid=913908&extra=page%3D1&page=6
