Ibis Figure

Bronze figure of an ibis depicted seated with its wings closed. The ibis was sacred to Thoth, the god of wisdom, scribal functions, and learning. In 1873 Charles Gatty noted that the ibis was on a marble stand put this is now gone. It can be seen intact with marble base on pl. 21 of Joseph Sams' illustrated catalogue published in 1839, annotated "The ancient Ibis., finely formed in bronze" (lithograph by B. Cranwell). Charles Gatty noted it was labelled 783. CONDITION NOTE 1998: Corroded, surface loss, cracked, surface dirt, incomplete.