Handle

Unknown

ca. 5th century BCE · Stone · Ancient Near Eastern Art

This handle is in the shape of a duck’s head, with the beak touching the rim. It is made of green stone and was probably originally part of a large bowl or round tray. Stone trays and dishes were found in the Treasury at Persepolis, some with handles in the form of animals, including duck’s heads. These were used at royal banquets, where the Persian king displayed his wealth and power and sometimes gave vessels from the table as gifts to his guests. It is unclear whether this handle came from a royal tray or if it was instead from a modest imitation, acquired by someone who merely aspired to be a royal dinner guest. There was a long history in Iran of decorating vessels with animal features, and the Achaemenids adopted and expanded this practice.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 5th century BCE

Medium

Stone

Culture

Achaemenid

Department

Ancient Near Eastern Art

Credit line

Gift of Walter Hauser, 1951