Egyptian
Ushabti, 8th century BCE - 1st century BCE
Faience, 8.9 x 2.2 x 1.6 cm (3 1/2 x 7/8 x 5/8 in.)
This Egyptian statue is made of turquoise faience. This glazed ceramic figure was made to be included in the tomb of a wealthy Egyptian as a servant for the deceased. The carved figure appears passive with large ears and long hair falling over each shoulder and a beard extending below this figure’s chin. Below the chest there is no detail. The object is broken into two pieces with the break occurring where at the legs would be. There are hieroglyphic symbols carved on the backside. The lower half of the back side is a much darker turquoise than the rest of the figure.
Macknight Room
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.