Beckers Collection (Aachen) - Ushabti UB-006: Usurped wooden ushabti with inscription

UB-006 — Usurped Ushabti for Jt.f (Beckers Collection, Aachen) Large mummiform ushabti of painted terracotta (red clay, white ground layer, polychrome decoration in black, red, green and blue). Height 22.2 cm. New Kingdom, 19th Dynasty, ca. 1292–1186 BCE. The object preserves a clearly documented ancient usurpation: an original five-line painted inscription encircling the body was erased in antiquity and partially replaced for a new owner named Jt.f, whose name was inserted within a red rectangular frame. The nṯr-sign of the primary inscription — presumably part of the priestly title it-nṯr (God's Father) of the original owner — was re-semanticised into the divine name Osiris (Wsir). The secondary inscription represents a short version of Book of the Dead Spell 6; the fifth line is lost due to a break at the lower end. The usurpation was confirmed and published by Prof. Hermann A. Schlögl (Schlögl/Brodbeck 1990, cat. no. 74, p. 135). A complete UV fluorescence examination (365 nm) has been carried out and provides material confirmation of the epigraphically postulated usurpation. Provenance: acquired 26 Jun 1987 by H. A. Schlögl at Lempertz, Cologne (Auction 622, lot 1647); acquired 04 Jul 2025 by Dirk Beckers at Gorny & Mosch, Munich (Auction 312, lot 8).