Terminal Ornament
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
That this finial or ornament belonged to an item of furniture is clear from the elaborate fittings, but both the identity of the original complete object and the exact symbolism of the duck or goose head remain unknown. Both types of fowl had sexual associations. Whatever its significance, the finial is apparently unique. Its fastidious modeling is characteristic of the Ptolemaic Period.
MEDIUM
Bronze
DATES
305-30 B.C.E.
PERIOD
Ptolemaic Period (probably)
DIMENSIONS
12 5/8 × 6 5/8 in. (32.1 × 16.8 cm) (show scale)
COLLECTIONS
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
ACCESSION NUMBER
54.101
CREDIT LINE
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Bronze terminal ornament, detail of a larger composition, consisting of plain papyrus capital with abacus surmounted by rectangular post terminating in large head and neck of a duck. The neck is hollow with interior cross-bar for attachment. Mouth of duck open with lower bill attached to the cylindrical neck. Feathers incised on head.
Condition: Good. Broken at joining of neck to head. One small repair on head. Hollow.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Terminal Ornament, 305-30 B.C.E. Bronze, 12 5/8 × 6 5/8 in. (32.1 × 16.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 54.101. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.54.101_wwg8.jpg)
IMAGE
installation, West Wing gallery 8 installation, CUR.54.101_wwg8.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2009
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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