What is a shabti ?

Shabtis are statuettes in human form or mummy form, generally measuring between 10 and 25 cm. The term shabti is used for statuettes made before 970 BC, while ushebti or ushabti refers to statuettes made in a later period. The literature generally refers to ‘shabtis’. Their task was to relieve their owner of any form of labour, such as farming in the Hereafter

For a remarkable two-thousand years, prosperous Egyptians took shabtis with them in their tombs. Firstly, as possible replacement for the mummies in case they should decay or perish, and secondly as servants to serve them in the afterlife

After Napoleon’s expedition at the beginning of the 19th century, Egypt became popular among archaeologists, scientists, art dealers and tourists. Throughout the 19th century and well into the second half of the 20th century, numerous objects were acquired by foreign tourists, dealers, and traders, both via the Cairo Museum and through local antiquities dealers in Egypt. As a result of this, many Egyptian archaeological objects such as shabtis can be found in museums, universities, at art dealers or in private collections.

A licensed shop selling original ancient Egyptian artifacts with a ushabti on the counter.
Photos (1963) courtesy Mohamed Moustafa,
Senior Conservator at the Grand Egyptian Museum, Linkedin 2024