Shabti Of Seti I

The piece of artwork I have chosen to analyze is the “Shabti of Seti I” (ca. 1294-1279 B.C.). This piece of work can be identified as a sculpture and came from Upper Egypt within the Valley of Kings, specifically, in the Tomb of Seti I. This sculpture is made of faience and stands 30.5 centimeters tall, 8.8 centimeters wide and, 6.5 centimeters deep. Artwork found within Egypt during this time period tended to depict shades of browns, oranges, reds, and yellows. This piece really stood out to me because of its unique bright blue color and shine. This sculpture can be identified as a Shabti. A Shabti is classified as a funerary figurine used throughout all of ancient Egypt. A Shabti is placed in tombs to represent the dead as well as to accompany the deceased in the afterlife and keep them from having to perform any manual labor after their death. It is important to study and understand the Shabti sculptures so that we have a better understanding of what the people of Egypt believed happened to them in their afterlife. This specific Shabti is the Shabti of Seti I who was a pharaoh of the New Kingdom throughout Egpyt.
It is seen clutching a pick and hoe, this is to symbolize the manual labor that the Shabti is supposed to keep its companion from having to endure in their afterlife. Shabti’s are usually seen as tan, blue, red, or green in color. This one happens to be blue and appears to be much more vibrant and bright compared to other Shabti’s that I researched. It is shaped as a human to represent the human that was sent to the afterlife. It’s texture appears to be mostly smooth, with small engraved writing throughout its bottom half which may make it a little rough or bumpy feeling. The writing may state Seti I’s achievements throughout his life. Along with its texture comes its vertical and horizontal lines found on the Shabti’s head