AN EXCEPTIONAL RED JASPER AMULET OF A BABOON, LATE TO PTOLEMAIC PERIOD

Egypt, 664-30 BC. Neatly carved, the simian seated on its haunches, with the tail elegantly coiled to one side and the hands resting on the knees. The body enveloped in a thick cloth, while the head distinguished by small, inset eyes beneath a straight forehead and a prominent muzzle framed by a dense mane on either side. The back of the figure with the remains of a suspension loop. The stone of deep garnet hues with dark veining and bands of vermilion red.

Expert’s note: In ancient Egypt, jasper was valued not only for its beauty but for its deep symbolic power. Depending on its color—typically red, yellow, or green—it was believed to embody aspects of life, blood, and regeneration. Red jasper, the most common variety, symbolized vitality and protection, reflecting the lifeblood of the gods and the sun’s creative force. It was frequently used for amulets, heart scarabs, and inlays, particularly those connected with the afterlife, where it served to revitalize the soul and guard it from harm.

Provenance: The Saoud bin Mohammed Ali Al-Thani Foundation. With an old collector’s label affixed to the base, inscribed ‘2308JB. Saoud bin Mohammed Ali Al-Thani (1966-2014) was a Qatari prince who served as minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage. By the turn of the 21st century, Sheikh Saoud had established an international reputation as an avid art collector, both for his own collection as well as those of several state-owned museums he oversaw in Qatar. Sheikh Saoud’s legacy as a collector is remarkable, as he laid the foundations of the major collections of Qatar Museums. In 2021, the Museum of Islamic Art hosted an exhibition in tribute to the legendary collector, titled A Falcon's Eye: Tribute to Sheikh Saoud Al-Thani.
Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age, with expected wear and natural imperfections. Small losses to the headgear and suspension loop at the back. Few minuscule nicks and minute chips, mostly to the base.

Weight: 10.7 g
Dimensions: Height 2.6 cm

The baboon played a prominent role within ancient Egyptian religious praxis. Initially venerated as the anthropomorphic embodiment of a lunar deity referred to as ‘the Great White One’, it was subsequently syncretized with Thoth, the god of writing, typically represented as an ibis or ibis-headed figure. In its baboon manifestation, Thoth retained his lunar associations. This diminutive statuette was likely an object of dedication within a cultic or votive context.

Literature comparison:
Compare a related marble figure of a baboon, Egypt, Late period, Dynasty XXVI, dated 664-332 BC, 6 cm high, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object number 89.2.223. For further related Egyptian examples of glazed faience amulets depicting lions, see William M. Flinders Petrie, Amulets, 1914, p. 43, pl. 37, no. 206 A-K.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 26 January 2023, lot 155
Price: USD 8,820 or approx. EUR 8,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An Egyptian steatite baboon, Late period, 664-332 BC
Expert remark: Compare the related subject, depicted on a similar stance, and manner of modeling. Note the size (10 cm).