An Egyptian Brilliant Blue Faience Ushabti of the Songstress of Amun Ta-udjat-ra, 21st Dynasty, 1075-944 B.C

holding hoes and wearing a striped tripartite wig bound in a diadem, the seed-sack-sack hanging beneath the wig in back, a column of inscription in front.

from Thebes, Deir el-Bahri (Cache II), late 19th century
D. Stadler, Miami, acquired in the 1970s

face and top of wig in front worn/discolored, back in very good condition.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Ta-udjat-ra was a priestess of the Temple of Amun at Thebes (see S.-A. Naguib, Le clergé féminin d'Amon thébain à la 21ème dynastie, Leuven, 1990, p. 261). Her sarcophagus is in the Cairo Museum (A. Niwinski, 21st Dynasty Coffins from Thebes. Chronological and Typological Studies, Göttingen, 1988, no. 143). Her papyri give her other titles as "Great musician of the of choir of Mut, mistress of heaven, Noble lady, Beloved of mighty Hathor, and Songstress of the pure foundation of Ptah" (A. Piankoff, "The Litany of Re," Bollingen Series, vol. XL.4, 1964, pp. 147-157, A. Piankoff and N. Rambova, "Mythological Papyri," Bollingen Series, vol. XL.3, 1957, p. 15, and A. Niwinski, Studies on the Illustrated Theban Funerary Papyri of the 11th and 10th Centuries B.C., Freiburg, 1989, p. 295). Ushabtis of Ta-udjat-ra are scarce; for another example in the Louvre see L. Aubert, Les statuettes funéraires de la Deuxième Cachette à Deir el-Bahari, Paris, 2002, p. 91, with a list of other examples. A painting by Paul Dominique Philippoteaux depicts the unwrapping of Ta-udjat-ra's mummy by French Doctors and antiquities officials on March 31st, 1891 (Annales du Service des antiquités de l'Égypte, 1939, pp. 13-14); her ushabti boxes are shown in the foreground.