Ibrahim Pasha
Ibrahim Pasha (1789 – 1848) was the eldest son of Mohammed Ali the Viceroy of Egypt and Sudan. He served as a general in the Egyptian army that his father established during his reign, taking his first command of Egyptian forces when he was merely a teenager. In the final year of his life, he succeeded his still-living father as ruler of Egypt and Sudan, due to the latter’s ill health.
His rule also extended over the other dominions that his father had brought under Egyptian rule, including Syria and Crete. He was Governor of Syria and visited London in 1846 where he was received by Queen Victoria.
Ibrahim predeceased his father, dying 10 November 1848, only four months after acceding to the throne. Upon his father’s death the following year, the Egyptian throne passed to Ibrahim’s nephew (son of Muhammad Ali’s second oldest son), Abbas.
Ibrahim remains one of the most celebrated members of the Mohammed Ali dynasty particularly for his impressive military victories, including several crushing defeats of the Ottoman Empire. Today, a statue of Ibrahim occupies a prominent position in Egypt’s capital, Cairo.
More Figures of the month
Pair of white cats
This is a rare pair of seated cats, approximately 13 ½” tall. They are decorated in bright gold and date to around 1870-1880. Harding Book Two illustrates this impressive pair on page 239.
Tiger and lion
This is a rare figure of a tiger and lion lying in front of a palm tree. Circus acts with wild animals became very popular in England during the 1830s and it is possible that this figure as well as other animal figures commemorated these events.
Lady Godiva
This is a rare figure portraying Lady Godiva seated sidesaddle on horseback. The figure is titled “Lady Godiva” and is decorated in the manner of the Parr factory, with soft yellow, green, and brown brushstrokes.
Lost Piece
This is an early Staffordshire figure of a woman standing on a grassy pedestal, with a coin in her extended hand. The figure is titled “Lost Piece” and represents the biblical verses found in Luke 15:8-10.
William Shakespeare
This is a gilt script titled figure of William Shakespeare with his right arm resting on a book atop a pedestal. Next to the pedestal is a sloped watch holder with a clock face painted inside, sitting atop a tree decorated with grapes.
Children on Saint Bernard dogs
This is a very rare pair of children seated sideways on Saint Bernards. More common figures have the children laying down or seated facing forward. Others have the rear arms moulded into the figures, instead of being separately moulded as these are. These figures are approximately 10” tall and date to around 1840-1850.
