Mesopotamian Hematite Weight in Form of a Duck

Culture: Mesopotamia

Period: Mid 2nd millennium B.C.

Material: Hematite

Dimensions: 2.2 cm long

Price: Sold

Ref: 6203

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

Condition: Intact

Description: Almost metallic seeming weight of black hematite in form of a crouching duck, placing its head on its shoulder on the back. The neck long and slender, the beak with a raised ridge. The 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 in the Middle East. The earliest examples originate from Sumerian archaeological sites dating back to the 3rd millennium B.C.