Lot 20
  • 20

An Egyptian Pale Blue-green Faience Ushabti of Neferibresaneith, 26th Dynasty, reign of Amasis, 570-526 B.C.

Estimate
60,000 - 90,000 USD
Log in to view results
bidding is closed

Description

  • An Egyptian Pale Blue-green Faience Ushabti of Neferibresaneith
  • faience
  • Height 7 3/16 in. 18.3 cm.
wab priest of the king, Royal Chancellor of Lower Egypt, Administrator of the Palace, and son of Shepen-Bastet, holding the hoe, pick, and seed-sack over his left shoulder, and wearing a braided beard with curled tip and striated tripartite wig, his finely modeled face with full lips indented at the corners, straight nose, and long contoured eyebrows and cosmetic lines, the nine lines of inscription beginning and ending at the back pillar.

Provenance

English private collection (Christie’s East, New York, April 25th-26th, 1984, no. 52, illus.)

Condition

Excellent. Note fairly typical staining.
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.

Catalogue Note

According to J.-F. and L. Aubert (Statuettes égyptiennes. Chaouabtis, Ouchebtis, Paris, 1974, p. 230), "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 then were finished by hand (see B. Peterson, "Gesicht und Kunststil," Medelhavmuseet Bulletin, vol. 12, 1977, pp. 22ff.). 

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). Aubert (op. cit., p. 230) notes that a large number of these figurines were officially dispersed and sold by the Service des Antiquités and found their way into public and private collections.

For other examples of his ushabtis see André B. Wiese, Égypte, moments d'éternité, Mainz, 1997, no. 160, Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, April 24th-25th, 1970, no. 110, cover illus., Sotheby's, New York, June 13th, 2002, no. 29, December 6th, 2006, no. 76, and December 5th, 2007, no. 29. For an example which could be from the same matrix see Sotheby’s, New York, December 8th, 2015, no. 21.