The shabti newly published as SC/149 is for a 26th Dynasty individual called Djehuty-em-Akhet (which can be translated as “Toth is at the horizon!”). This Late Period shabti has a very rare element in the inscription. Read more in the publication.
Author: Niek de Haan
Publication: update of Pinedjem II overseers
In early 2017 I published a parallel overview of 22 overseers shabtis of the important High Priest of Amun Pinedjem II. Since then, two more have come to light. As i expected they derived from private collections. One was auctioned by Bonhams in 2o18 and subsequently published by Glenn Janes in his excellent Amasis publication and another was brought to my attention by a collector who kindly shared a picture and the additonal information (private collection PR). By now we have therefore 24 (of the probably originally 36) overseers known examples. Finally, i came across a colour picture of one of the Moscow shabtis, so that has been updated too. Enjoy the new publication PinedjemII!
SC/148: Shabti of Pay-Iry
A rare New Kingdom white faience shabti for Pay-Iry has been added to the database! Click on the link to see and read all about it.
Book review: The Shabti Collections – 6
Name: The Shabti Collections – 6, A Selection from World Museum, Liverpool
Author: Glenn Janes
First published: 2016, Olicar House Publications
Amount of pages: 563
ISBN: 978-0-9566271-6-2
Average price: GBP 120
Availability: Good
Language: English
Content: Description of a selection of the shabtis in the World Museum, Liverpool
Review:
It took 4 long years waiting, from 2012 to 2016, for the arrival of the next volume in The Shabti Collections series from shabti scholar Glenn Janes.
Following the epical 5th volume with a selection of the Manchesters museum shabti collection it was hard to believe it could get any better, but it did! This 6th, and so far last, volume is the best of the series. It contains a staggering 512 shabtis covered in 275 entries on 563 pages (excluding the elaborate preface).
Apart from the sheer number of shabtis covered, it contains a very wide variety of examples, including royals, and from all time periods, making this one of the best reference books for parallels to which i find myself turn to, more than any other book, first.
For the non specialists the preface contains a scholary contribution with a brief historical outline of shabtis, as in volume 5, but now pictures are being used from the Liverpool catalogue to show the story in pictures from the museum collection being discussed.
Also building on the experience from volume 5 is that more background information is given for a number of shabtis relating to the find and further funerary equiment. Most notably are the extensive dealings of the shabtis of Seti I and the stone shabtis of Amen-em-ipet. On the Seti I shabtis the author writes a convincing story, attributing a lot of the uninscribed shabtis from this museum to the famous pharao. Many musea and private collectors should reexamine their wooden shabtis based on these parallels!
Again the book is filled with excellent colour pictures and with some side pictures on some of the shabtis. Another noteworthy point is that the parallel overview per entry, which is much more complete than in previous editions, also mentions whether it concerns workers or overseers. A humongous task completed by the author, further adhencing the importance of this book as reference book.
The only small downside of this book is that the binding is perhaps not best suited for the enormous amount of heavy pages. It deserves a hard cover bound version!
Conclusion
The ideal reference book on shabtis, with a huge amount of shabtis, exquisite research and parallel information. Highly recommendable for every museum and persons with an interest in Ancient Egypt and shabtis in particular.
Book review: The Shabti Collections – 5
Name: The Shabti Collections – 5, A Selection from the Manchester Museum
Author: Glenn Janes
First published: 2012, Olicar House Publications
Amount of pages: 500
ISBN: 978-0-9566271-5-5
Average price: GBP 95
Availability: Good
Language: English
Content: Description of a selection of the shabtis in the Manchester Museum
Review:
Following the initial 4 volumes of relatively small UK collections, shabti scholar Glenn Janes was ready to take on the major task of cataloging the shabtis of the Manchester Museum. The museum has one of the larger museum collection of shabtis in the world with some 1000 shabtis. Together with Dik van Bommel and his partner Ciska i had a small role in assisting the author with this catalogue on site at the Manchester Museum for measurements and photographs.
With the fantastic material of the Manchester Museum the author made a very recommendable book as it has everything a shabti enthousiast is looking for.
It contains over 500 pages describing 522 shabtis from all sorts and materials, excellent colour pictures and with side pictures this time around on some of the shabtis.
For the non specialists the preface contains a scholary contribution with a brief historical outline of shabtis.
Another great part of the book is the back ground description on the find of the tomb of Priest Horudja from the Late Period. Manchester Museum possesses no less than 58 shabtis of this owner, making it interesting study material. The author reprinted parts of Petrie excavation notes and added further info on the owner, his tomb and other funerary equipment. Further research to the shabtis of this owner is certainly worthwile.
Conclusion
With this volume Glenn Janes rocked the shabti world. An amazing accomplishment and recommendable for everyone interested in Ancient Egypt and a must have for all shabti researchers.