Egyptian faience amulet of an ibis
Late Dynastic Period, 25th-31st Dynasty, 715-332 BC
Length: 2.5 cm
A finely detailed figure of an ibis crouched on an integral trapezoidal base, a ribbed suspension loop attached to the neck and shoulder. Neck, legs and claws naturalistically ribbed. The tail highlighted in lapis blue against the turquoise glaze. A spur between the feet shows the position of a maat feather now lost.
Most likely a funerary amulet as Thoth was the recorder at the Weighing of the Heart in the Afterworld when the heart of the deceased was balanced against the feather of Maat.
Literature: For a similar, though less fine, example also with a maat feather, see one now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (Acc. no. 26.7.873). For further discussion on ibis amulets, see see C. Andrews, 'Amulets of Ancient Egypt', (London, 1994), p. 27, fig. 21f.
Provenance: Private collection Switzerland, acquired 1960s and thence by descent
Late Dynastic Period, 25th-31st Dynasty, 715-332 BC
Length: 2.5 cm
A finely detailed figure of an ibis crouched on an integral trapezoidal base, a ribbed suspension loop attached to the neck and shoulder. Neck, legs and claws naturalistically ribbed. The tail highlighted in lapis blue against the turquoise glaze. A spur between the feet shows the position of a maat feather now lost.
Most likely a funerary amulet as Thoth was the recorder at the Weighing of the Heart in the Afterworld when the heart of the deceased was balanced against the feather of Maat.
Literature: For a similar, though less fine, example also with a maat feather, see one now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (Acc. no. 26.7.873). For further discussion on ibis amulets, see see C. Andrews, 'Amulets of Ancient Egypt', (London, 1994), p. 27, fig. 21f.
Provenance: Private collection Switzerland, acquired 1960s and thence by descent
Late Dynastic Period, 25th-31st Dynasty, 715-332 BC
Length: 2.5 cm
A finely detailed figure of an ibis crouched on an integral trapezoidal base, a ribbed suspension loop attached to the neck and shoulder. Neck, legs and claws naturalistically ribbed. The tail highlighted in lapis blue against the turquoise glaze. A spur between the feet shows the position of a maat feather now lost.
Most likely a funerary amulet as Thoth was the recorder at the Weighing of the Heart in the Afterworld when the heart of the deceased was balanced against the feather of Maat.
Literature: For a similar, though less fine, example also with a maat feather, see one now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (Acc. no. 26.7.873). For further discussion on ibis amulets, see see C. Andrews, 'Amulets of Ancient Egypt', (London, 1994), p. 27, fig. 21f.
Provenance: Private collection Switzerland, acquired 1960s and thence by descent