Description
The ibis is an Egyptian bird, shown here standing firmly on both legs with a lizard in its beak. The bird rests on a two-tiered circular base, and a vertical stem with incised decoration extends above the ibis’s head. While an Egyptian animal, the image of the ibis devouring a lizard became common only in the Roman world, depicted in wall paintings and seen on Barbotine ware, a type of pottery. This sculpture may be unique, however, in showing this motif in the round.
Provenance
Perhaps Alexandria.; Purchased from Mohammed Yeganeh, Frankfurt (1974); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1974-)
Accession Number
1974.3
Medium
bronze, hollow cast
Dimensions
Overall: 37.5 cm (14 3/4 in.)
Classification
Sculpture
Credit Line
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund