This beautiful painted wooden statue was discovered in 1950 during work to reconstruct the entrance to the enclosure of the Step Pyramid at Saqqara. A group of late Dynasty 6 burial shafts were discovered about one hundred metres from the northwest corner of the enclosure. One of the shafts belonged to Ishetji who held many important administrative titles under King Pepy II (Neferkare) including 'Sealer of the King of Lower Egypt' and 'Chief of Estates of the Pyramids of Pepy I and Pepy II'. Among the discovered objects in his burial shaft was this statue that shows him standing with his left foot forward, holding the sekhem sceptre in his right hand and a walking stick in the left. Ishetji wears a short wig and has the small beard in fashion with high officials. The vigorous and expressive face of the statue may be a faithful portrait of the man. Inscribed on the statue base are his name and two of his titles, 'Sealer of the King of Lower Egypt' and 'Sole Companion of the King'.