Shabty of Amunmose

New Kingdom Funerary Arts

Far from being static, as people often think, Egyptian art developed and evolved over time.

Although funerary objects such as coffins, canopic jars, shabties, and model food offerings were already known in the Middle Kingdom, many of their forms had changed significantly by the time of the New Kingdom. Some differences may reflect the desire to conform to contemporary aesthetic standards. Other new designs suggest a conscious attempt to enhance an object’s magical potency, thus increasing the deceased’s potential for life after death.