An Egyptian green glazed composition shabti for Tjai-Hor-pa-ta
Late Period, 30th Dynasty, Reign of Nectanebo II, circa 360-343 B.C.
Wearing a tripartite wig and plaited false beard, carrying a pick and hoe in his crossed hands and a seed bag over his left shoulder, a single vertical column of hieroglyphic text reading: 'Glorifying the prophet in charge of the fields, Tjai-Hor-pa-ta, born to Tefnut', the back pillar uninscribed, 17.1cm high注脚Provenance:
Dr J.J. Acworth (1853-1927) collection; and thence by descent.
Anonymous sale; Christie's, London, 25 October 2007, lot 19.
with Galerie Cybele, Paris.
Private collection, North America, acquired from the above.

See J.-F. & L. Aubert, Statuettes Égyptiennes, Paris, 1974, p.247-8; the shabtis for Tjai-Hor-pa-ta are described as 'Les plus beaux ouchebtis', and the owner's many other titles are recorded. His tomb was discovered at Saqqara.

Dr Acworth and his wife Marion Stevenson were inspired to collect antiquities after visiting Egypt in the late 19th Century. Their collection was amassed from the auction houses of London, most notably the Lady Meux sale of 1911. After his death, his widow gifted 600 pieces to the British Museum; the remainder of the collection passed by continuous descent before coming to auction in 2007.