An Egyptian Brilliant Blue Faience Ushabti of Nesi-Khonsu, Principal Wife of the High Priest of Amun, Pinudjem II, 21st Dynasty, 1075-944 B.C

The Principal Wife of Pinudjem II Nesy-Khonsu ‘s primary title was Viceroy of Kush, a title normally only given to men. She had two sons and two daughters with Pinudjem, and died in year 5 of the reigh of Siamun. Her coffins were originally made for Pinudjem’s sister and other wife Isetemkhebi. Both the inner and outer coffins were found, but one was reused for Ramesses IX. It is unknown whether or not the coffin was reused after her death or if she donated it for the reburial of Ramesses. It seems most likely however that it was hastily used for her burial and also hastily used for the reburial of Ramesses IX.

On the discovery of the Royal cache at Deir el-Bahri in 1871, including Nesy-Khonsu’s ushabtis, and the later appearance on the market of rare and from the point of view of the history of religion, inscribed boards from her ushabti box, now in the Louvre and the British Museum, see J.-F. Aubert and L. Aubert, Statuettes egyptiennes .Chaoubtis, Ouchebtis, Paris, 1974, pp. 139-149. About Nesy-Khonsu and her burial see article by Niek de Haans: https://www.shabticollections.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/The_overseer_shabtis_of_the_Supreme_Chie.pdf, pp. 3-4.