Details

LOT 0001

Egyptian Bronze Statuette of Thoth with Hieroglyphs to the Base

LATE PERIOD, 664-525 B.C.

4 in. (157 grams total, 10.1 cm high including stand).

In baboon form, modelled in the round wearing a lunar disc and seated on a semi-circular base with attachment lug; accompanied by a wooden display base; traces of hieroglyphic inscription around the edge of the base; repaired. [No Reserve]

Provenance

Gifted by Herbert Parsons (1870-1940) to his grandson, James Gibson (1926-2013).
Inherited by the vendor and her brother, from their grandfather James Gibson.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.200862.

Literature

Cf. Kozloff, A., Animals in Ancient Art, the Leo Mildenberg Collection, pp. 67-68, no. 55, for a similar example.

Footnotes

God of the moon, magic and writing, Thoth could take the form of a baboon or an ibis. In baboon form, he was associated with the animals who rise early in the day, and was thus linked to the sun god, Ra. The dedicatory hieroglyphic inscription on the base of this example includes the di and ankh signs meaning 'give life'.