Mesopotamian Hematite Weight in Form of a Duck

Culture: Mesopotamia
Period: Mid-2nd millennium B.C.
Material: Hematite
Dimensions: 2.1 cm long; 7.8 grams
Price: Sold
Ref: 6400
Provenance: English private collection, 1980s. Thence 2016 with Rupert Wace Ancient Art in London. With a copy of the original invoice.
Condition: Some wear on the surface due to frequent usage, but intact.
Description: Almost metallically appearing weight of dark grey hematite in form of a crouching duck, putting its head over its shoulder to the back. The neck is long and slender, the beak with a raised ridge. The tail feathers are accentuated by a gentle widening at the end of the body. The base of the small sculpture is flat. The so-called "sleeping duck" is a common weight form in the Near East. The earliest examples originate from the Sumerian excavation sites of the 3rd millennium B.C.