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Shawabty of Kaha
Egyptian
New Kingdom, Dynasty 19
1295–1186 B.C.
Object Place: Egypt, Thebes, Deir el-Medina
Medium/Technique
Limestone
Dimensions
Height x width: 22.4 x 4.5 cm (8 13/16 x 1 3/4 in.)
Credit Line
Hay Collection—Gift of C. Granville Way
Accession Number72.749
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAncient Egypt, Nubia and the Near East
ClassificationsTomb equipment – Shawabties and shawabty boxes
DescriptionPainted limestone shawabty made of light-colored, fine-grained limestone; five horizontal bands of painted hieroglyphs in black; wig in black; flesh a deep reddish-brown; crossed arms.No agricultural implements are identifiable in his hands. The inscription identifies the owner as the "servant in the Place of Truth, Kaha", indicating that he was one of the villagers from Deir el Medina who worked on the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings.
ProvenanceFrom Deir el-Medina. By 1836: Robert Hay Collection, Linplum, Scotland; 1863: to his son, Robert James Alexander Hay; 1868-1872: Way Collection, Boston (purchased by Samuel A. Way through London dealers Rollin and Feuardent, 27 Haymarket); 1872: given to the MFA by Samuel's son, C. Granville Way.