A Pale Blue Green Faience Ushabti of Neferibresaneith , 26th Dynasty, reign of Amasis, 570-526 B.C.

wab priest of the King, Royal Chancellor of Lower Egypt, Administrator of the Palace, son of Schepen-Bastet, holding the hoe, pick, and seed-sack, and wearing a braided beard and striated tripartite wig, his finely modeled face with eyebrows and cosmetic lines in relief, the body with nine lines of inscription.

acquired in Europe or Japan in 1976

excellent, earlobe of one ear appears to be chipped, note surface staining which is more extensive on back
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The Tomb of Neferibresaneith was found in 1929 at Saqqara, south of the funerary complex of King Userkaf. In all, 366 ushabtis were found, most of them resting on the lid of the stone sarcophagus under the carbonized wood box (see E. Drioton and J.P. Lauer, "Les tombes jumelées de Neferibrê-Sa-Neith et Ouahibrê-Men," Annales du Service des Antiquités de l'Égypte, vol 51, 1951, pp. 469-490; Porter and Moss, Topographical Bibliography, vol. III.2, p. 587).  According to Aubert (Statuettes égyptiennes, p. 230), "a large number of these figurines were dispersed by the Service des Antiquités and found their way to public... and private collections... The ushabtis of Neferibresaneith are among the most beautiful ones of the Late Period, comparable in quality to those of Psamtik-Meryptah." They were cast using four matrices and were finished by hand (see B. Peterson, "Gesicht und Kunststil," Medelhavmuseet, Bulletin 12, 1977, pp. 22ff.).  For other examples Schlögl-Brodbeck, Ägyptische Totenfiguren, pp. 242-243, no. 171, Égypte, Moments d'éternité, pp. 245-246, no. 160, Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, April 24th-25th, 1970, no. 110, cover illus., Sotheby's, New York, June 13th, 2002, no. 29, and December 6th, 2006, no. 76.