Egyptian Bronze / Gesso Wood Sacred Ibis - XRF Tested

Ancient Egypt, Third Intermediate to Late Dynastic Period, ca. 1070 to 332 BCE. A sacred ibis, similar to ones found in the tombs of scribes, associated with the deity Djehuty or Thoth, the god of knowledge in the Egyptian pantheon. Here, the bird is depicted seated with a sinuous neck and long bill, the body sculpted in wood and covered in gesso that would at one time have been white but has gained a rich patina with time. The legs, head, and tail feathers are each cast separately in bronze with finely delineated details. The eyes likely once had an inlay. Take note of those webbed feet and intricate markings on tail feathers. It is mounted on a wooden platform. Size: 5" W x 3.85" H (12.7 cm x 9.8 cm); 4.95" H (12.6 cm) on included custom stand.

The ibis, an elegant, long-legged wading bird that lives along the shores of the Nile, was associated with the god Thoth. He was the god of wisdom and writing, and in worship to him many thousands of ibises were ritually sacrificed, embalmed, and mummified before being buried in underground galleries. Thousands of these burials have been excavated at Sakkara, near Memphis, Egypt's ancient capital. This piece, a smaller version of these ibis containers, was a votive item to be placed inside a tomb.

Provenance: private Bond collection, Oregon, USA, acquired in 1987 from private Frank collection, Woodside, California, USA

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#147511
Condition Report: Rich patina on surface. Gesso has some small areas of loss revealing the wooden surface below. Small losses from the wooden base, notably on the front end. Excellent preservation of form.