Egyptian Wood Falcon
An ancient Egyptian wood falcon, with large almond shaped eyes and small hook-shaped beak; on an integral base.
Late Period. ca. 700- 30 BC.
Wooden figures of the 'Ba' such as this were sometimes placed on coffins or mounted on the top of wooden funerary stelae. The 'Ba' symbolized the individual's ability to move freely, and was supposed to leave the tomb and fly to join the sun god in the sky.
Formerly in a New York private collection, acquired through inheritance from a collection formed prior to 1948.