Worker Shabti of Nauny
Unknown Artist
ca. 1050 B.C.
Medium
Faience
Dimensions
H. 9.2 × W. 3.1 × D. 2.4 cm (3 5/8 × 1 1/4 × 15/16 in.)
Classification
Shabti, worker, Nauny
Period
Third Intermediate Period
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1930
Accession Number
30.3.28.29
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the Egyptian Art galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where we encounter the enchanting **Worker Shabti of Nauny** (ca. 1050 B.C.). This petite faience figurine, standing just 9.2 cm tall, hails from Egypt's Third Intermediate Period, specifically Dynasty 21—a time of political fragmentation following the grandeur of the New Kingdom, when Theban priests held sway and tomb goods emphasized eternal service. Crafted from vibrant blue-green faience—a glazed composite of quartz, lime, and copper that evokes the Nile's fertile hues and rebirth— this shabti embodies ancient Egypti...