An ancient Egyptian hand painted terracotta ushabti burial sculpture, circa the 300 BC. The sculpture depicts a figure standing in mummiform. A column of black-painted hieroglyphic symbols is presented atop the legs. The ushabti also called shabti or shawabti was a funerary figurine used in ancient Egyptian funerary practices. They were made of wood, stone, terracotta or faience. Ushabtis were placed in tombs among the grave goods and were intended to act as servants or minions for the deceased, should they be called upon to do manual labor in the afterlife. They carried inscriptions asserting their readiness to answer the gods summons to work. Ancient Egyptian Religious Sculptures And Art Collectibles.