By Caroline Roberts, Conservator
It’s October, and we are coming up on nine months of pandemic life. A lot of us are struggling right now, and trying to find comfort where we can. Being here at the Kelsey always gives me a lift. I just love spending quality time with the artifacts. Caring for them helps me put worries aside and grounds me in the here and now. Part of this comes from necessity — you really need to focus while photographing or treating an artifact — but there is also something meditative about working with an ancient object.
The ushabti figurine I’m treating today is one of thousands that were mass-produced in ancient Egypt. Its purpose was to serve the deceased in the afterlife; this particular one holds a sickle in each hand, ready to work the farm. Its turquoise color comes from copper minerals that were mixed with sand and salts and heated to form the figurine’s glazed surface. This ushabti is not only a tireless helper, it is also a really cool piece of ancient technology.
This artifact is in the lab because it needs a little TLC. And frankly, so do a lot of us. Let’s not forget to take care of ourselves — and each other — as we navigate these difficult times.
