A long long time ago, in Ancient Egypt, the dead were buried with true devotion. Since the New Kingdom (around 1350 BC) the Egyptians not only presented treasures to the dead, but also small, mummy-shaped figurines in order to accompany the deceased in their journey to and in the afterlife. Some of these ancient figurines are available on the market today and we regularly see examples appear in our weekly Archaeological Finds & Remains auctions. However we're pleased to host a special Ancient Egyptian Shabtis auction solely dedicated to these mysteriously enchanting figurines which will run from 6th through 15th April 2018. We invite you to keep reading and discover the story of the shabti, their value in modern society and which lot in our upcoming auction has our archaeology experts especially excited.
Cheap Labour
For the Egyptians, the afterlife was a continuation of the earthly life. The Egyptian netherworld however was not a place of "la dolche far niente" (blessed idleness), but instead a land of joyless heavy agricultural labour.
The Old Egyptians, being great bon vivants, found the solution in the Chaoubti (or shabti for short). These were small wooden figurines that could be brought to life by reciting a magic formula which was engraved on their front. The shabti would be responsible for doing the heavy labour in the afterlife in place of their master.
Deir-el-Bahari type Shabti of Amenemopé, 21st dynasty (1080-945 BC) from our Ancient Egyptian Shabtis auction (6th - 15th April 2018). Expert's estimate: €2,800 - €3,200
Answerer
Originally they were called chaouabti or shabti, named after the type of wood from which they were made. Later they were named ushabti, a combination of the ancient Egyptian words for ‘wood’ and ‘answer’. The new word meant ‘answerer’ and the figurines became known as 'answerers'. This was mainly due to the magic formula used to call them to life, used since the 26th dynasty (ca 7th century BC).
"Oh, ushabti, if your name is called to replace your master in his heavy day's work, to irrigate fields and to transport sand from the East (fields) to the West (desert), please stand up and say: Here I am !"
Not only did the name gradually change over the course of time, but the material from which these items were made also underwent major adjustments. Besides wood, they were also made of stone and the new frit, a type of faience - the forerunner of glass and porcelain.
Bank Account Workers
Today, the shabti are still working for the bank accounts of their 21st century owners. However, these mini-labourers of the Egyptian Paradise (the gardens of ialou) are still poorly paid. It’s still possible to purchase ushabti at prices for which no mediocre contemporary sculpture or industrially manufactured Art Nouveau glassware can be bought.
Some shabti that were recently sold achieved an added value of 150% to 300%. From experience our in-house archaeology experts know that art from the Classical Antiquity provides good return on investment and long-term capital growth, usually 8% to 10% annually.
The graph above shows the price evolution since 1979 of the shabti, shown in the adjacent photo
Every investment in tangible goods, especially art, should be viewed as a mid to long-term investment; you should expect to see profits after 5 to 10 years. Collecting ancient, archaeological objects is an enjoyable way to prevent inflation in the investment portfolio, because the investor can enjoy their art objects, rather than storing them in a bank vault or only having the proof of payment in their possession.
Besides, truly old art is not as volatile as shares and bonds, coins, gems and the gold and silver markets. As early as 1975, Sylvia Porter wrote in her book, ‘Sylvia Porter's Money Book: How to Earn it, Save it, Invest it, Borrow it, and Use it to Better Your Life’, that archaeological objects with a good provenance are one of the best types of art to invest in to ensure the rapid growth of your funds. Articles written in 2005 in the ‘Financial Times’ show the same value evolution. Additionally, pieces with a good provenance are on the rise - an additional 71.8% value compared to items with a lesser provenance had already been noted and proven in 2011 by Katherine A. Kiel and Katherine Tedesco.
Here you see a very famous highlight for all shabti collectors: a figurine - fragmentary - of Seti I, father of Ramses II, sold in October 2012 in Paris. The statue was known from a 1972 catalogue and had been part of a collection since 1774. The original estimate was €150,000 to €200,000. Eventually it was sold at auction for €740,000. Talk about added value.
- Fragment of a shabti of Farao Seti I (1294-1274 BC), 22.9 cm. Ex-Collectiion Charles Bouché
- Image source: gazette-drouot
The very best of the shabti are the blue ones from the tombs of Deir-el-Bahari or the beautiful statues from the 26th to 30th dynasties, such as those from Nefer-ib-Re-sa-Neith or Tchahorpata. Values from €30,000 to €80,000 are the new standard for the shabti of these persons from the 26th dynasty. The shabti for Tchahorpata shown below was estimated to sell for between €15,000 and €20,000, but in October 2012 it sold for an impressive €36,000.
- Tchahorpata, son of Tefnut, was given the titles of 'Prince, Prophet and Priest of Bastet, Isis, and Nephthis in Hermonthis', and he was the person assigned by the Pharaoh to measure the lands during 30th dynasty, time of Pharaoh Nectanebo (380-342 BC)
- (Image source: gazette-drouot)
Shabti at Catawiki
You can still find affordable wood, stone, faience or terracotta shabti. Because of their expressive character, the mysterious attraction of the shabti has not faded over time. In fact, even with their 35 centuries of age, the shabti have retained 2 of their most important characteristics: their availability for every budget and the added value to their owner. It almost seems like the Ancient Egyptians are still helping us in our life supply.
- 2 shabti figurines from our Ancient Egyptian Shabtis auction (6th - 15th April 2018)
- Left: Shabti of Ipet-Hemet-es daughter of Hator-em-Akhet. Expert's estimate: €650 - €750
- Right: Wooden shabti, New Kingdom 19th Dynasty (1306-1186 BC). Expert's estimate: €750 - €1000
One particular shabti that will appear at auction on Catawiki on 6th April 2018 has our archaeology experts especially excited. This shabti belonged to the world's first archaeologist, Kha-em-Waset, son of Ramses II (ca. 1279 - 1213 BC). Kha-em-Waset is mostly known for restoring ancient monuments in Egypt, which is why he is often described as the first archaeologist. In fact, he was more interested in the history of the country and the restoration of the monuments of his illustrious ancestors, than in technical research. He was, after all, one of the sons of the ruling pharaoh.
When the Serapeum in Saqqara, the cemetery of the Apis bulls, was examined in 1851, several objects were found, including a golden mask and many of his shabti, which indicates that he wanted to let his Ka (soul) enjoy the sacrifices and worship services his ancestors received. Smart, for someone from ancient Egypt! He thought he was provided with an eternal supply of food and drink in the hereafter. The large numbers of shabti made for this historical figure suggest that they were even buried as a kind of memory of him, by his loving father, grieving for his deceased son.
A published Egyptian faience shabti for Prince Kha-em-Waset from our Ancient Egyptian Shabtis auction (6th - 15th April 2018). Expert's estimate: €15,000 - €20,000
His shabti, who have a painted or engraved longer formula on their waist, have a text specially designed for him (perhaps by him even). He had access through his priesthood to the most important liturgical texts of his time. Searching libraries was, in his own words, the thing he loved to do the most. He was a literate man with a lot of knowledge. This is how he has gone down in history and he is even still honoured today as a magician.
The figurine that is offered here is probably one of those copies that, in the vicinity of a monument, had to help its owner to enjoy eternal sacrifices and magic that was brought to others.
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From 6th through 15th April we're hosting a special Ancient Egyptian Shabtis auction where you will find some of the shabti mentioned in this article including the shabti of Kha-em-Waset along with many more that will work for you and your bank account. Anyone can participate in Catawiki’s online auctions; you only need one account to bid, buy and sell. Create your free account today and explore our weekly auctions curated by our team of in-house experts.
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