AN EGYPTIAN RED JASPER FIGURE OF A BABOON, REPRESENTING THOTH OLD KINGDOM – EARLY MIDDLE KINGDOM, CIRCA 2200–2000 B.C. OR EARLIER Carved from red jasper, the small figure is shown seated with the head slightly raised. The modeling is markedly archaic, with a stylized yet expressive treatment characteristic of the transitional period between the Old and Middle Kingdoms. The facial features are finely delineated, while the body is reduced to essential forms, clearly articulated and well balanced. The surface retains a natural patina with soft rounding consistent with great age. In ancient Egyptian belief, the baboon was sacred to Thoth, god of writing, wisdom, the moon, and cosmic order. Figures of this type were used as cult objects, votive offerings, or funerary deposits, imbued with protective and symbolic significance. The use of red jasper—a prized material in pharaonic Egypt for amulets and ritual objects—further underscores the importance of the piece. The material, color, and carving compare closely with early examples in major museum collections. The notably naturalistic rendering, predating the later canonical forms of protective amulets, supports an early date. A rare and compelling miniature sculpture from the formative period of Egyptian glyptic and small-scale sculpture. Height: 4.5 cm Weight: 20 g Condition: Good and authentic, with minor wear consistent with age; no evidence of restoration. Provenance: German private collection, Allenstein (Pomerania), formed prior to 1939 No export permit is required for shipping within the European Union. The seller guarantees that the object — an old find — was acquired legally and that all relevant permits and documentation are in place. The seller will inform the buyer should the transfer of these permits and/or shipment require more than a few days.