A group of three similar Ancient Egyptian small shabtis in bright blue faience. Each figure stands mummiform with arms crossed over the chest holding a hoe or pick-axe to the shoulders. The figures have lappet wigs with artificial beards, facial features have been rendered naturalistically.
 
Later Dynastic period: Circa 7th-1st century BC.
 
Very fine condition
Height approximately 6 cms (2.4 ins).
 
By the later Egyptian periods, the number of shabtis increased dramatically: Some tombs had 365 worker shabtis (one for each day of the year), plus 36 overseers (one for each 10-day Egyptian week), and were often mold-made, so the features are usually smoothed out and indistinct.
 
See our blog post on shabtis