View Cart (0) | My HJB | Sign In

HJB Home > Antiquities Home > Inv. # aq19128

Egyptian A Large Egyptian Bronze and Gilt Wooden Ibis Late to Ptolemaic Period, ca. 664-30 BC. The piece is depicted seated and realistically modeled. Its body is sculpted in wood with it's wings tightly folded. The body has a heavy layer of course granular gesso that has a gold leaf applied- most of which is intact and in good shape. The head, legs and tall pieces are cast separately in bronze and attached to the body. On the head the eyes are inlaid white and black glass set into the head. The elongated beak curves downward with the neck curving inward to connect with the body. The legs are solid cast with incised scales and tangs for inset into a base. As with the better and larger examples of ancient Egyptian ibis, the tail feathers also are rendered in a bronze plate with incised feathers. The bronze pieces all have their original archaeological surfaces largely intact. Thus the familiar sequence of green over black over red in the general corrosion sequence of complex to simple corrosion compounds; this pattern is especially visible on the legs. The ibis represents the Egyptian god Thoth. Originally the god of the moon, Thoth came to greater importance later in Egyptian history as the god of wisdom, science, magic and the judgment of the dead. The cult of Thoth gained prominence during the Late Period, when thousands of ibis were mummified at his main temple in Khmun. This present example is a well-known and recognizable type with established parallels in both museum collections and auction records. Provenance: Ex California estate, acquired in the 1960's. L. 16 3/4" H. 9 1/2" (42.5 cm x 24 cm).