Egypt, Third Intermediate to Late Dynastic Period, 22nd to 31st Dynasty, ca. 943 to 332 BCE. An interesting cast leaded-bronze figure of a striding priest atop an integral rectangular plinth. The priest wears an ankle-length skirt around his waist and holds a small cult statue of a baboon in his hands. The baboon has attenuated legs, undefined arms, a projecting snout beneath recessed slit-form eyes, and a bulbous coiffure with lightly incised lines for hair. Baboons were not native to Egypt, but instead were imported from Nubia. They were, however, popular animals in the ancient Egyptian artistic tradition as well as being important to religious worship. The primate in this example is representative of Thoth, the ibis-headed god of writing, accounting, and wisdom who would assume the form of a baboon in certain stories. This priest of Thoth is perhaps carrying the figural depiction to an altar during a religious ceremony. Size: 1.05" W x 3.3" H (2.7 cm x 8.4 cm).

For a stylistically-similar example holding a vase and censer, please see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 47.105.3: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/545997

Provenance: private Southern California, USA collection, acquired in the 1970s to mid-1980s

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#140709

Loss to one arm. Minor nicks to base, body, baboon figure and head, with softening to some finer features, and small pitting holes across most surfaces. Light earthen deposits and great green and russet patina throughout. Old adhesive sticker beneath base.