Shawabty of Pinudjem I, High Priest of Amen and King
Unknown Artist
c. 990–969 BCE
Medium
bright blue faience with purple details
Dimensions
11 × 3.6 × 2.5 cm
Classification
Funerary Equipment
Department
Egyptian and Ancient Near Eastern Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of the John Huntington Art and Polytechnic Trust
Accession Number
1914.582
About this artwork
This small mummiform funerary figurine was a surrogate for the deceased that performed menial tasks for its owner in the afterlife. Mold-made and decorated with paint, this shawabty contains the name of a king within a cartouche. The vibrant blue color occurs during the firing process as a chemical reaction with the pigments in the faience paste, in this case added copper.