Statuette of a seated male baboon
Life Story
The animal is represented as seated on a shallow, almost rectangular base, its tail curved around its right hindquarters, its knees drawn up exposing the genitalia. A cylindrical opening goes vertically through the figure from the crown of the head, expanding at the base. This probably held the conoidal core around which the figure was cast by the lost-wax process. The upper end served for the insertion of the usual moon-disk and crescent which this sacred animal of Thoth so often wears on its head. The surface appears to bear traces of white and vermilion paint under a modern sealing of varnish.
Entry taken from Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Collection 3 volume catalogue, edited by Steven Hooper (Yale University Press, 1997).
Provenance
Formerly in the collection of Tigrane Pacha D'abre, catalogue 1911 no. 21.
Purchased by the Sainsbury Centre, University of East Anglia from Peter Sharrer in 1975 out of funds provided by Robert and Lisa Sainsbury.
On display
Title/Description: Statuette of a seated male baboon
Materials: Bronze
Measurements: h. 64 x w. 28 x d. 41mm
Accession Number: 605
Historic Period: Late Period-Roman Period (c. 400 BC-AD 100)
Production Place: Africa, Egypt
Credit Line: Purchased with support from Robert and Lisa Sainsbury, 1975
