Statuette of William®

Since its arrival at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1917 the Egyptian faience sculpture has been a favorite with visitors, and for many years has been known as "William"—the Metropolitan's unofficial mascot. Like the original, this figurine is decorated with drawings of lotus blossoms and marsh plants which remind us of his favorite habitat, the shallow banks of the Nile River. This statuette is part of a series of merchandise that pays tribute to Sheikh Saoud Al Thani. Sheikh Saoud had a fascination with natural history and Egyptology. When Sheikh Saoud discovered Egypt, he devoted his attention to developing his knowledge of the country’s history and collecting objects related to Ancient Egypt.