http://tucson.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/ancient-egyptian-ushabti-sale-shows-affordable-way-to-collect-antiques/article_de04d7d2-71ae-5e12-81af-91a505e46f70.html
Ancient Egyptian ushabti sale shows affordable way to collect antiques
An ancient Egyptian ushabti (funerary figure) sold for $600 recently at Artemis Gallery in Boulder, Colo.
- What:
- An ancient Egyptian ushabti from 652 — 300 BC sold recently for $600 at Artemis Gallery. Made of Egyptian faience (glazed earthenware), it still retains original blue glaze. The figure holds a crook and flail in its hands; a band of hieroglyphs is at the legs. Including stand, the figure is a little over 4 inches tall.
- More:
- Ushabtis were small figures placed in tombs with items meant to accompany and assist in the afterlife. Intended to farm and/or do manual labor for the deceased, the figures were made in quantity. Because so many were inserted into tombs, many still survive.
- Smart collectors know:
- There are varied spellings for the figures, but ushabti is most common. They are so common that any museum with an Egyptology section has many.
- Hot tip:
- The small figures are relatively inexpensive, depending on quality. They are an affordable and easy-to-display way for collectors to indulge in Ancient Egypt.
- Bottom line:
- It doesn’t always take a fortune to collect antiquities.
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