883 - Two duck sculptures made of hematite, Ancient Near East, mid-2nd millennium B.C.

Two duck sculptures made of hematite, Ancient Near East, mid-2nd millennium B.C. Two stone carvings made of hematite depicting ducks in a resting or sleeping position, with their necks and heads turned backward. The scholarly literature frequently suggests that they were used as weights. The larger piece features taller, broader, and more puffed-out plumage over the body; the tail is depicted in a highly simplified manner with a blunt taper at the rear; the head, neck, and broad beak are clearly defined but also rendered in a minimalist style without detail. Flat base. Length 3.3 cm. Height 2.2 cm. Weight 22.73 g. The smaller specimen has slightly more defined forms. The tail feathers are slightly fanned out at the rear. The body is flatter overall; the eyes are marked by small indented circles on the head. There is a hole drilled between the neck and the body, allowing the piece to be worn on a string. The underside is slightly concave, without providing a flat base. Length 3.2 cm. Height 1.3 cm. Weight 30.1 g. Only for the first piece is use as a weight truly plausible, while for the second, other purposes—such as a pendant—are also conceivable. CULTURAL HERITAGE! Provenance: Private collection in southern Germany, acquired from the grandfather’s estate. Purchased by him at art fairs and in galleries during the 1980s and 1990s. Condition: I -