Statuette of a standing baboon

This baboon, sacred to Thoth, the god of wisdom, appears to be female. It stands with left foot advanced on a podium, its arms held to its sides, the backs of the paws facing to the front. The long tail falls vertically behind to terminate in a bend behind the right foot. On the rump are represented the naked ischial callosities which are present in nature; the rest of the figure, including cheek and tail, is marked by a series of short striations to indicate hair. Around the waist is a knotted belt. On the back is a striated and perforated suspension lug, showing that it could have been suspended as a pendant around the neck. The surface is coated with a shiny blue-green glaze.

Entry taken from Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Collection 3 volume catalogue, edited by Steven Hooper (Yale University Press, 1997).