Egyptian Bronze Ibis Statue

$1,074.15

An exceptional bronze Egyptian statue in the form of an ibis. The recumbent bird features a small head, with a typically long beak, decorated with incised lines to indicate a mouth. Further incisions, in a chevron pattern, have been added to the tail to indicate feathers. The feet belonged originally to another ibis statue, of larger proportions, and have been added later. The statue also features base attachments, protruding from the legs and feet.

Date: Circa 664 - 30 BC
Period: Late Period - Ptolemaic Period
Provenance: From the former collection of Gustave Mustaki, who was an avid collector in the early 20th century, with his collection coming to the UK from Alexandria under Egyptian licence in 1947. Many of his pieces are in major museums worldwide, including the British Museum, the Getty Museum, and the Egyptian State Museum. Previously in the collection of Elsa MacLellan, Portsmouth, UK and thence by descent. Acquired Chiswick Auctions, June 2019.
Condition: Fine. Feet from a different statue - attached in modern times.

SOLD

SKU: AH-616 Category: Tags: , ,

The Ibis was the sacred animal of the Egyptian god Thoth, along with Baboons. He is often represented with the small head and curved beak of the bird. Thoth was known in the Egyptian Pantheon as the god of wisdom, of scribes and writing. Scribes would generally implore the god and have small personal statues of him. The symbol for a scribe was also an ibis.

Weight 280.3 g
Dimensions L 7.1 x W 3.6 cm
Culture

Country

Egyptian Mythology

Metal

Region

Reference: For similar, see Bonhams Apr 2007 Auction, London, lot 149

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