Pendant in the form of a duck

Unknown

ca. 8th–7th century BCE · Bronze · Ancient Near Eastern Art

This is a bronze pendant in the form of a seated bird, possibly a duck. No details are indicated, and the only decoration is some cross-hatching on the base. A suspension loop connects the bird’s neck to its back. This pendant was excavated at Surkh Dum, a settlement site in Luristan in the Zagros Mountains of western Iran. It was part of a large hoard of objects buried beneath a doorjamb in a structure interpreted as a sanctuary; thus the objects were probably offerings made for a god.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 8th–7th century BCE

Medium

Bronze

Culture

Iran

Department

Ancient Near Eastern Art

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1943