A SUPERB PALE BLUE FAIENCE SHABTI OF NESBANEBDJED, DYNASTY XXX

This shabti comes from a tomb discovered in 1902 at the site of the ancient city of Mendes (Tell el-Rub’a), the capital of Egypt for a short time during the Late Period. One of the two chambers of the tomb was almost completely empty, with only a few fragments of gold leaf left behind. In the second chamber were over 360 complete shabtis, plus a number of fragments. Most were inscribed, like this one, for the priest Nesbanebdjedet. Of these shabtis, 322 had the type of T-shaped inscription seen here. About 100 of Nesbanebdjedet’s shabtis remained in Egypt; many more can be found in museums and private collections around the world.

Egypt, Tell el-Rub'a, 380-342 BC. Superbly modeled, standing on a trapezoidal base, holding the pick, hoe, and seed bag slung over the left shoulder, wearing a braided beard with curled tip and tripartite wig falling to the top of the rectangular back pillar, his face with smiling mouth, broad nose, and outlined eyebrows in relief; a line and column of inscription to the body.

Inscriptions: To the front, T-shape inscription, ‘Nesbanebdjed, born to Shentyt, the 'imy-khenty Priest, the One who separates the Two Gods, the Priest of Osiris in Apet, the Scribe of the divine (...), the Overseer of wab-Priests of Sekhmet in Hat-mehyt (Mendes), the Priest of Banebdjed’

Provenance: Discovered at Tell el-Rub'a, tomb of Nesbanebdjed, in 1902, and subsequently sold to Europe. A private collection in the Isle of Wight, UK. Bonhams London, 26 October 2007, lot 55. A private collection in Paris, France. A noted collector, acquired from the above via the local auction market.
Condition: Very good condition with wear, commensurate with age. Manufacturing irregularities, age cracks and fissures, small losses and chips, expected flaking, and a minuscule repair to the nose.
French Export License: Certificat d’exportation pour un bien culturel, no. 184742, dated 18 May 2017, has been granted. A copy accompanies this lot.

Weight: 182.2 g (incl. stand)
Dimensions: Height 17 cm (excl. stand), 18 cm (incl. stand)

Mounted on an associated stand. (2)

Nesbanebdjedet’s priestly titles associate him with the cult of the ram-god Banebdjedet, who was part of the Mendesian triad with the goddess Hatmehyt and the child-god Harpocrates.

Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related faience Shabti of Nesbanebdjedet, Late Period, Dynasty 30, dated 380-343 BC, 17.5 cm high, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object number 10.130.1044b.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 10 December 2008, lot 4
Price: USD 12,500 or approx. EUR 16,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A pale blue faience ushabti of Nesbanebdjed, 30th Dynasty, 380-342 B.C.
Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling and similar subject, depiction, inscription, and size (16.9 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 4 February 2025, lot 18
Price: USD 25,200 or approx. EUR 22,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An Egyptian faience shabti for Nesbanebdjed, Late Period, 30^th dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling and similar subject, depiction, and related size (19.6 cm).