Egypt, Late Dynastic Period, 26th to 31st Dynasty, ca. 672 to 332 BCE. A delightful and quite impressive, glazed steatite sculpture of Thoth, the god of writing, mathematics, and myriad other intellectual pursuits. Typically depicted as an ibis-headed man, Thoth is shown here as a cynocephalus (dog-headed) baboon seated with forepaws resting on knees atop an integral plinth. The animal gazes forward, presenting an elongated snout, crescent-shaped eyes, and petite ears, all cloaked by a thick mane incised with a scale-like motif that drapes his head, shoulders, and back. Baboons warm their stomachs by sitting up, raising their paws, and facing the sun each morning, a behavior the Egyptians interpreted as solar worship. Baboon figures were included in burials to assist in the deceased’s rebirth, functioning as protective amulets and serving as eternal guardians of the dead. Size: 2" L x 1" W x 2.5" H (5.1 cm x 2.5 cm x 6.4 cm); 4" H (10.2 cm) on included custom stand.

Wild baboons had all but disappeared from around the Nile Valley by the Late Dynastic period, when this figure was made. Female baboons were placid enough to be domesticated and kept as pets, but they had to be imported at great cost from central Africa, making them exotic luxuries and conspicuous status symbols.

According to Egyptologists Erik Hornung and Betsy M. Bryan, "As primeval animals, baboons and green monkeys were prominent parts of the Egyptian cosmogony. The earliest gods are sometimes depicted with baboon heads. The baboon became an aspect of the sun god, Re . . . And of the moon god, Thoth-Khonsu. Thoth (Djehuty in ancient Egyptian) was the god of writing and knowledge, who was depicted in the form of two animals: the baboon (Papio cynocephalus) and the sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus). In his baboon form Thoth was closely associated with the baboon god, Hedj-wer (the great white one) of the Early Dynastic period. By the end of the Old Kingdom (2686 - 2181 BCE) he was usually portrayed as an ibis-headed man, holding a scribal palette and pen or a notched palm leaf, performing some kind of act of recording or calculation." (Hornung, Erik and Betsy M. Bryan, eds. "The Quest for Immortality: Treasures of Ancient Egypt." National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2002, p. 200)

A Late Dynastic steatite sculpture of a baboon similar in style and scale to this example hammered for 12,500 GBP (equivalent to $17,255) at Christie's London as lot 33 on July 7th, 2021 (Live Auction 19875 "Antiquities").

Provenance: private Rancho Mirage, California, USA collection, by inheritance in 2020; ex-Dr. TDR Berreth, California, USA, acquired before 1982

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#179009

Professional repair and restoration to back proper right corner of base. Some light surface wear with a few nicks and abrasions as well as light fissures to glaze. Otherwise, mostly intact with excellent presentation and nice remaining detail.