Lot 38
  • 38

An Egyptian Turquoise Faience Figure of a Baboon, late 18th/20th Dynasty, circa 1390-1075 B.C.

Estimate
40,000 - 60,000 USD
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Description

  • An Egyptian Turquoise Faience Figure of a Baboon
  • Faience
  • Height 6 1/8 in. 15.5 cm.
sacred to the moon god Thoth, seated on a pylon-shaped support rounded at the back and resting his forepaws on his knees, the tail curved around to one side, his cape-like mass of fur composed of echeloned vertically-striated lappets against a horizontally-striated ground, a naos pendant suspended on the chest, with incised mouth, recessed eyes beneath prominent arched brows, and human-like ears, a mortise for insertion of a headdress, probably the crescent and moon-disk, on the crown, a deep tapering recess under the support. 

Provenance

William H. and Lily F. Diehl collection, New York, acquired in 1947, most probably from Maguid Sameda, 55 Sharia Ibrahim Pasha, Cairo
Walter H. (1920-81) and Martha W. Diehl
by descent to the present owner

Condition

Generally very good; the proper right forepaw, knee, and upper calf are restored, note small chips and nicks both ancient and modern. A small drill hole for a TL test within the recess underneath has been filled in. The object was deemed too low fired to yield an accurate result.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Catalogue Note

A steatite figure of a baboon at the University of Heidelberg shows the same un-patterned inner coat of fur dipping down between the knees; see E. Feucht, Vom Nil zum Neckar, Berlin-Heidelberg, 1986, no. 217.