Egypt, Late Period ca. 776-332 B.C. Limestone.

H. 2 23/ 32 in; 6.9 cm, W. 3 11/ 32 in; 8.5 cm
 

Horizontal rectangular mould with accurately sculpted negative of a heron to right. The bird sits on its elegantly curved legs. The head with long, pointed beak and a fine feather that extends far backwards.

Lower left corner slightly worn. Reverse with distinct traces of smoothing. Two fairly deep, curved grooves may belong to an earlier, but discarded relief. Two modern drill holes for a plinth on the underside.

For the ancient Egyptians, the purple heron was a manifestation of Benu, the ancient Egyptian god of death.  Moreover, it rises rejuvenated from the ashes and thus formed the model for the Greek myth of Phoenix.
 

Formerly priv. coll. Robert Seward Kennedy, New York/London, formed in the 1950s-1960s.