A TURQUOISE FAIENCE AMULET OF AN IBIS OF THOTH, LATE PERIOD-PTOLEMAIC PERIOD

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A TURQUOISE FAIENCE AMULET OF AN IBIS OF THOTH, LATE PERIOD-PTOLEMAIC PERIOD This lot is from a single owner collection and is therefore offered without reserve Egypt, 664-30 BC. Depicted in a squatting posture atop a flat rectangular base, the ibis form of Thoth is modelled with a long, gently curving beak, while a suspension loop is placed behind the head. Overall glazed in turquoise. Important Note: For essential information on the Jorgen Ruben Gallery Ledger and provenance documentation please visit here: www.zacke.at/rubencollection_ledger Dimensions: Length 1.5 cm Thoth, in his ibis manifestation, is one of the most significant and multifaceted deities of ancient Egypt, embodying wisdom, writing, knowledge, and the regulation of time and cosmic order. Closely associated with the moon and lunar cycles, Thoth was believed to be the divine scribe who recorded the judgments of the gods and maintained the balance of Ma’at, the principle of truth and harmony. In his ibis form, he appears as a sacred bird with a long curved beak, an image derived from the natural ibis species observed along the Nile, which the Egyptians associated with wisdom and careful observation. Thoth was also credited with the invention of writing and hieroglyphs, making him the patron of scribes, scholars, and administrators, and his image frequently appears in amulets, temple reliefs, and funerary contexts where intellectual and magical protection was required. As a mediator between gods and humans, Thoth played a crucial role in the judgment of the dead, recording the weighing of the heart ceremony and ensuring the proper execution of divine justice. Literature comparison: Compare a related amulet of the god Toth as a crouched ibis, dated Late Period-Ptolemaic Period, 5.4 cm long, in the Art Institute of Chicago, reference number 1894.843. Compare a closely related amulet of a crouching ibis with maat feather, dated to Late Period-Ptolemaic Period, 1.9 cm long, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object number 26.7.873. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Bonhams London, 1 May 2013, lot 290 Price: GBP 3,125 or approx. EUR 5,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling and subject. Note the larger size (4.2 cm).

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