Egyptian Faience Necklace with Pendant

Multi-stranded designer necklace composed of beads of mainly annular and tubular types. 21 grams, 74 cm



Acquired before 1979. From the private collection of Mr F. A., South Kensington, London, UK; thence by descent 2014.

For thousands of years, artisans in Egypt created vibrant ceramics to echo the beauty of rare jewels. These ornaments were created with almost every material, colour, and texture imaginable and they come from across Egypt and beyond: vibrant blue lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, glossy black obsidian from Turkey, and aqua-green turquoise from the Sinai. They were worn in life and, after death, they served as precious ornamentation for mummies.

Carved hardstone figure of a Hamadryas Baboon (papio hamadryus), sacred to Thoth, crouching with his forepaws resting on his knees and wearing a segmented and banded hood and collar with elaborately carved textural detailing; face chipped and lower body absent. 243 grams, 10.6 cm



Ex Yorkshire, UK, collection, 1960s-1980s.

The baboon was considered an embodiment of the god Thoth. The animal was associated with both the sun and the moon, often depicted wearing a moon and crescent headgear. Together, these aspects symbolised the cycle of rebirth, as it was believed that the deceased travelled through the night and was reborn at dawn. Thoth was highly regarded for his connection to knowledge, healing, and writing. Scribes would wear a Thoth baboon amulet to ensure continued professional success. In the Roman era, Thoth became the 'primary pseudonymous authority for diverse priestly texts' (Frankfurter, D., Religion in Roman Egypt,New Jersey, 1998, p.240). As some religious centres with animal cults were maintained in the Roman Period, it is possible that this figurine was a votive offering to the god. Baboon figurines have also been discovered in Isis sanctuaries in Rome. This discovery may indicate the mythological connection between the two deities, as Thoth provides words to Isis, enabling her to revive her husband, Osiris.

Kneeling on a rectangular platform with a wide apron covering his thighs, clean-shaven head and hands raised in adoration; tang on the underside for attachment; mounted on a display stand. 41 grams total, statue: 30 mm high



From an early 20th century Home Counties, UK, collection.

Priest figurines like this were commonly placed before a larger deity figurine, both attached to a base, e.g., Schulz, R., Seidel, M., Egyptian Art. The Walters Art Museum, London, 2009, for a kneeling priest before a standing figure of Anubis.