Mesopotamian Diorite Weight in Form of a Duck

Culture: Mesopotamia

Period: Mid 2nd millennium B.C.

Material: Diorite

Dimensions: 3.8 cm long

Price: Sold

Ref: 6202

Provenance: Private collection Ron Nasser, New York, acquired over 20 years ago.

Condition: Intact

Description: Finely worked diorite weight in form of a crouching duck, placing its head over the shoulder on the back. The neck is long and slender, the eyes indicated as inclined notches. Tail feathers are accentuated through the gentle broadening. The basis of the small sculpture is flat. The so-called “sleeping duck” is one of the most common weight forms of the Near East. The earliest examples originate from Sumerian archaeological sites dating back to the 3rd millennium B.C.