Funerary figurine of Egyptian tombs from the Middle Kingdom, usually mummiform in appearance and carrying agricultural tools. It was developed out of the funerary statuettes and models provided in tombs of Old Kingdom. The shabti was intended to serve as a replacement if the deceased was called upon to perform manual labor in the netherworld. The finest examples were from the New Kingdom, some of Saite date. Made of wood, stone, terra-cotta, or faience, such statuettes were placed in the tombs often in large numbers.