Collections: Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art: Standing Figure of an Ibis

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Standing Figure of an Ibis

Animal mummies were routinely placed in some type of container once the animal had been wrapped in linen. The more ordinary containers were specially designed or reused pottery jars. Such objects have been found by the tens of thousands in so-called animal cemeteries at a number of sites in Egypt.

At times elaborate coffins were crafted to hold the animal mummies. Just as human coffins were anthropoid, 50 animal coffins took the form of the animal contained. The ibis mummy held by this coffin was placed within through the detachable lid on the back. The gilding of the body and the exquisite detailing of the head, legs, and feet make this example one of the finest of its kind.

• Medium: Wood, silver, gold, and rock crystal
• Possible Place Collected: Tuna el-Gebel, Egypt
• Dates: 305-30 B.C.E.
• Period: Ptolemaic Period
• Dimensions: 15 1/16 x 23 1/8 in. (38.2 x 58.7 cm)
• Collections: Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
• Museum Location: This item is on view in Egypt Reborn: Art for Eternity, 19th Dynasty to Roman Period, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor
• Accession Number: 49.48
• Credit Line: Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
• Rights Statement: Creative Commons-BY-NC

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• Caption: Standing Figure of an Ibis, 305-30 B.C.E. Wood, silver, gold, and rock crystal, 15 1/16 x 23 1/8 in. (38.2 x 58.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 49.48. Creative Commons-BY-NC
• Image: 3/4, 49.48_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
Standing Figure of an Ibis, 305-30 B.C.E. Wood, silver, gold, and rock crystal, 15 1/16 x 23 1/8 in. (38.2 x 58.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 49.48. Creative Commons-BY-NC (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 49.48_SL1.jpg)