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Fragments of faience ushabtis

Object(s) photograph: Site: Giza; view: G 7631

Several small fragments of faience ushabtis; one fragment inscribed on back [GLYPH], another fragment inscribed with chapter six of Book of the Dead; [(part of group of 47+ ushabtis of Psamtik, son of Ikhetpure, born of Iset, Type III 2d, including 25-2-236, 25-2-249, and others [including 25-2-16, 25-2-18, 25-2-73, 25-2-237, 25-2-239, 25-2-248, 25-2-250, 25-2-251, 25-2-253, 25-2-309, 25-2-310; also part of this group 25-2-238, 25-2-240]); molded in half-mold (mold i: retouched, similar to mold ii except curves of legs better shown, cord in right hand going over left shoulder well-drawn, bag on back is small pouch, base usually clearly defined, 38+ specimens; mold ii: similar to mold i, except smaller and slightly more clumsy figures, 9+ specimens), very soft-baked soft white paste, core usually greyish (sometimes pink or mauve tinge), glaze originally bright blue (two qualities of glaze: A: faded to greenish cream, and leaving inscription clearly visible, 17+ specimens; B: heavier than quality A, blue better preserved, fills inscription, making it almost illegible), face broad and heavy, lappet at back, bag and pilaster, and inscription incised with sharp tool; inscription well-cut with hieroglyphs mostly well-formed (probably all written by same hand), inscribed with sixth chapter of Book of the Dead [GLYPHS], text variations rare (and only trivial); all (except one intact ushabti and one mended ushabti) badly broken]; [one fragment from 25-2-240 identified as intrusive to this group: fragment of small ushabti, soft-baked pale drab paste, glaze almost completely gone, pilaster and base, incised text]. Illustration: No. Supplementary illustration: Yes with hieroglyphs [intrusive fragment]

Details

  • ID
    HUMFA_25-2-240
  • Department
    Harvard University-Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition
  • Classification
    Tomb equipment-Ushabtis and ushabti boxes
  • Findspot
    Pit G 7631 A
  • Material
    Faience
  • Credit Line
    Harvard University–Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition
  • Object Ownership Information
    MFA accession numbers: 25.3330, 25.3331, 25.3332, 25.3339, 25.3340
  • Date of Register Entry
    02/06/1925
  • Attested
    Ikhetpure (in G 7631)
    Iset (in G 7631)
  • Owner
    Psamtik (in G 7631)
  • Remarks
    MFA 25.3339 (= one fragment originally registered as 25-2-240 intrusive to this group; see OR page 579). Ushabtis of Psamtik (concordance 25-2-236): MFA 25.3330, MFA 25.3331, MFA 25.3332 (= 25-2-240 = 236.83, 236.84, 236.85); sequence numbers higher than .69 not actually written on objects; MFA 25.3340 (= one base fragment with registration number altered to read 25-2-240 written on it; not part of 25-2-236 concordance); see OR page 579 for minor variations in text; see OR page 578 for ushabti concordance sequence numbers for specimens of mold ii and glaze quality A (concordance numerical sequence 1 through 71). Two sets of inscribed ushabtis of Psamtik, son of Ikhetpure, born of Iset, have been attributed to two different “original” loci (based on provenances for the scattered ushabtis); however, both sets are identical (style and inscription); see ushabti concordance 25-2-236 (attributed to G 7631 A) and ushabti concordance 29-11-274 (attributed to G 7757 A).
  • Problems/Questions
    MFA accession numbers verified

Tombs and Monuments 1

  • G 7631

    • Site Name Eastern Cemetery

Unpublished Documents 1

Full Bibliography

  • Zivie-Coche, Christiane M. Giza Au Premier Millenaire: Autour du temple d'Isis dame des pyramides. Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1991, p. 277.

People 3

Ancient People

  • Ikhetpure (in G 7631)

    • Type Attested
    • Remarks Father of Psamtik, husband of Iset. Name appears on scattered set of ushabtis inscribed for Psamtik. Two sets of inscribed ushabtis of Psamtik, son of Ikhetpure, born of Iset, have been attributed to two different “original” loci (based on provenances for the scattered ushabtis); however, both sets are identical (style and inscription); see ushabti concordance 25-2-236 (attributed to G 7631 A) and ushabti concordance 29-11-274 (attributed to G 7757 A).

  • Iset (in G 7631)

    • Type Attested
    • Remarks Mother of Psamtik, wife of Ikhetpure. Name appears on scattered set of ushabtis inscribed for Psamtik. Two sets of inscribed ushabtis of Psamtik, son of Ikhetpure, born of Iset, have been attributed to two different “original” loci (based on provenances for the scattered ushabtis); however, both sets are identical (style and inscription); see ushabti concordance 25-2-236 (attributed to G 7631 A) and ushabti concordance 29-11-274 (attributed to G 7757 A).

  • Psamtik (in G 7631)

    • Type Owner
    • Remarks Scattered set of ushabtis inscribed for Psamtik. Two sets of inscribed ushabtis of Psamtik, son of Ikhetpure, born of Iset, have been attributed to two different "original" loci (based on provenances for the scattered ushabtis; however, both sets are identical (style and inscription); see ushabti concordance 25-2-236 (attributed to G 7631 A) and ushabti concordance 29-11-274 (attributed to G 7757 A).