An Egyptian blue faience ushabti for Khaemwaset. The mummiform figure wears a broad collar, a short wig with a side lock of hair, typical for a Sem Priest, his crossed hands hold hoes and a seed bag hangs from the back. A vertical inscription is painted on the front reading, ‘The illuminated one, the Osiris, Sem Priest of Ptah, Son of the King (Prince), Khaemwaset.’

Mounted on stand.

New Kingdom: Dynasty: XIX Circa 1250 – 1230 BC.

Very Fine condition: Complete and intact.

Height without stand 15.2 cms (6 ins).

Provenance: Previously with Hixenbaugh Ancient Art (2014) Formerly in the collection of Leopoldo Benguerel y Godo, Barcelona, acquired in London in the 1960’s.

This piece has been precisely dated by means of a Thermo Luminescence analysis carried out by Ralf Kotalla, an independent German Laboratory. The TL certificate with its full report will accompany this lot.

‘Grave goods of the Egyptian prince Khaemwaset, the most famous son of Pharoah Ramesses II, were first discovered by the French archaeologist August Mariette while excavating the Serapeum at Saqqara between 1850 and 1853. The Serapeum of Saqqara was the burial complex of the sacred Apis bulls which were the physical manifestations of the god Ptah. The Serapeum is located near the step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, not far from Memphis in Lower Egypt. Mariette cleared sand from the entry way to the Serapeum, but the entrance was ultimately blocked by giant boulders and debris. He was forced to use dynamite to gain entry to the subterranean catacombs that held the massive sarcophagi of the sacred Apis bulls. Within these passageways, Mariette unearthed amulets and shabtis naming Khaemwaset. The same Khaemwaset is known from Ancient Egyptian texts as the builder of the Serapeum. He was a very important Ramesside prince, the most prominent son of the powerful and long-lived Pharaoh Ramesses II. During his lifetime, Khaemwaset was revered as a hight priest and magician. He has been referred to as the first Egyptologist for his documented interest in Egypt’s Old Kingdom monuments which were by his time already over 1000 years old. He restored many of these early monuments in and around Giza. Many, like the 5th Dynasty Pyramid of Unas at Saqqara, bear inscriptions detailing the work he had done there. Khaemwaset received military training in his youth and was present at the Battle of Kadesh as a subordinate officer under the command of his father Ramesses II. He went on to hold several important priestly titles including the Sem Priest of Ptah at Memphis. It was in this role that he oversaw the sacred Apis bulls and their interment within the Serapeum. The tomb of Khaemwaset has never been identified. Shabtis of Khaemwaset were unearthed by Mariette in the Serapeum and are now in the Louvre. Other examples have found their way into the European collections including the Basel Antiken Museum, the Royal Museums of Brussels, and the National Antiquities Museum of Lieden.’