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Shawabty of Qaha

Egyptian
New Kingdom, Dynasty 19
1295–1186 B.C.
Findspot: Egypt, Deir el-Medina

Medium/Technique Stone; limestone
Dimensions Height x width: 24.1 x 4.4 cm (9 1/2 x 1 3/4 in.)
Credit Line Hay Collection—Gift of C. Granville Way
Accession Number72.751

DescriptionPainted limestone shawabty, inscribed for its owner, Kaha. Light colored; fine-grained stone; seven horizontal bands of hieroglyphs painted in black; wig in black; reddish-brown flesh; 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.
The first band reads: sDm aS m st-MAat
The second band: i Sawabty
the third band: ...tw sDm [aS]
Only traces of the other bands' hieroglyphs remain.
Translation:
The servant in the place of Maat
O Shabty ...
(if this) servant is (counted of)...
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.
(Accession Date: June 28, 1872)