<em>Figure of an Ibis</em>, 664–332 B.C.E. Glass, 11/16 × 3/8 × 11/16 in. (1.7 × 1 × 1.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 08.480.91. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.08.480.91_right01.JPG)

Figure of an Ibis, 664–332 B.C.E. Glass, 11/16 × 3/8 × 11/16 in. (1.7 × 1 × 1.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 08.480.91. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.08.480.91_right01.JPG)

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Any idea how this was made?

This little ibis would have been made in a mold. Very hot glass would have been pressed into an ibis-shaped mold where it cooled and maintained the shape.

The ibis was an important and symbolic animal in ancient Egypt and the molded glass technique allowed figures to made even smaller and thus even more portable!

Interesting! Thank you.

Tell me more.

In the ancient world, glass was often used as a cheaper alternative to precious stones. This ibis amulet in blue glass was meant to imitate lapis lazuli, one of the most prized materials in the ancient Near East and Egypt.

This small amulet would have been made by pressing the molten glass into a mold.

Figure of an Ibis

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

MEDIUM Glass

DATES 664–332 B.C.E.

PERIOD Late Period

DIMENSIONS 11/16 × 3/8 × 11/16 in. (1.7 × 1 × 1.7 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 08.480.91

CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

EXHIBITIONS

Infinite Blue

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Figure of an Ibis, 664–332 B.C.E. Glass, 11/16 × 3/8 × 11/16 in. (1.7 × 1 × 1.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 08.480.91. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.08.480.91_right01.JPG)

IMAGE right, CUR.08.480.91_right01.JPG. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2024

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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