Blue glazed ushabti of Seti I

This head of a ushabti represents king Seti I of Ancient Egypt’s 19th Dynasty, c. 1294-1279 B.C and was discovered within the king’s tomb. The head measures at 5.77cm tall and 7.75cm wide.

A composition of blue glaze, this head of Seti I showcases the king wearing the Ancient Egyptian “nemes” stripped royal headdress. The uraeus, usually in the form of a protruding servant, is missing.

The British Museum Curator writes about this piece: “Among the hundreds of shabtis that were placed in the tomb of Sety I, there was also series of larger figures of high quality. These were of glazed composition and are distinguished by their skillful modeling and the excellent quality of their blue glaze. None of the surviving examples have votive texts mentioning officials, yet the possibility exists that they were gifts to the king, in the manner of the fine shabtis of Tutankhamun. It is to one of these larger shabtis that this head belonged. From more complete examples it can be deduced that the king also wore an elaborate collar and bracelets, and grasped two hoes in his crossed hands. The standard shabti-spell would have been inscribed in horizontal lines around the body and legs.”

Menmaatre Seti I (or Sethos I in Greek) was the second pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt during the New Kingdom period, ruling c. 1294 or 1290to 1279 B.C.. He was the son of Ramesses I and Sitre, and the father of Ramesses II.

The name ‘Seti’ means “of Set”, which indicates that he was consecrated to the god Set (also termed “Sutekh” or “Seth”). As with most pharaohs, Seti had several names. Upon his ascension, he took the prenomen “mn-m3’t-r’ “, usually vocalized in Egyptian as Menmaatre (Established is the Justice of Re). His better known nomen, or birth name, is transliterated as “sty mry-n-ptḥ” or Sety Merenptah, meaning “Man of Set, beloved of Ptah”. Manetho incorrectly considered him to be the founder of the 19th Dynasty, and gave him a reign length of 55 years, though no evidence has ever been found for so long a reign.

Summary:
Ushabti head of king Seti I
New Kingdom, 19th Dynasty, c. 1294-1279 B.C
Tomb of Seti I, KV17.
British Museum. EA9216