Large Egyptian Hieroglyphic Shabti for a Priest Pa-Di-Usir. 30th Dynasty, 380-343 BC. A substantial pale green glazed composition shabti with tripartite wig and false beard holding agricultural tools, a hoe and a pick, in the crossed hands and a seed-bag behind the left shoulder, ten rows of hieroglyphs from Chapter Six (the ‘Shabti Chapter’) of The Book of the Dead on the body, for The Osiris, the Priest of Ptah, Pa-di-usir, who is in the middle of Herakleopolis, born of Sedet-iret-binet [‘Who destroys the Evil Eye”], plain dorsal pillar; mounted on a custom-made stand.Cf. similar examples published in Aubert, J-F. and L., Aubert, Statuettes Égyptiennes, Paris, 1974, pl.64, no.152; pl.65, no.154; James, G., The Amasis Collection, Lymm, Cheshire, 2020, S 9838, p.200; Schneider, H.D., Shabtis, Pt III, Leiden, 1977, no.5.3.1.262, pl.64.460 grams total, 24cm including stand (9 1/2"). From an old French collection and subsequently with a Hertfordshire gentleman from 1990s.Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS writes: 'Herakleopolis, the modern village of Ihnasya, 15 km west of Beni Suef in the southern part of the Fayum, preserves the ancient name of the city, Nesi-nesu. It was a prominent city in the First Intermediate Period (9th and 10th Dynasties), 2134-2040 BC. Its chief god was the ram-headed Harsaphes, later identified with Herakles, hence its later classical name of Herakleopolis Magna. The temple was excavated by Eduard Naville (1891-2) and Flinders Petrie (1904"). A full set of shabtis, 365, one for each day of the year, was provided to stand in place of the deceased in the next world and carry out any agricultural work or heavy labour such as clearing the canals, all mentioned in the text of Chapter Six. It was normal for shabtis to include the name of the mother, shabtis naming the father of the deceased are exceedingly rare. Shabtis from this dynasty and the reign of Nectanebo II (360-343 BC) are particularly noted for their high quality and fine faces. Nectanebo II was the last native pharaoh of Egypt before the Persian conquest. His fate is unknown, possibly he fled south to the Sudan, his unused sarcophagus, found in Alexandria, is in the British Museum. Medieval legend (the Alexander Romance) recounts that he fled to the Macedonian court (i.e. the anti-Persian faction), was attracted by Olympias, wife of king Philip II, and became the father of Alexander the Great.' A video of this lot is available to view at TimeLine Auctions website.