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Dish in the Form of a Duck

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: 19th Dynasty to Roman Period, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor

Cosmetic dishes in the form of trussed ducks were made throughout the Eighteenth Dynasty, This example shows the bird with its head turned back; the duck's openwork neck forms the handle of the dish.

MEDIUM Egyptian alabaster (calcite) or aragonite
  • Place Made: Egypt
  • DATES ca. 1336-1327 B.C.E., ca. 1327-1323 B.C.E., or ca. 1323-1295 B.C.E.
    DYNASTY late Dynasty 18
    PERIOD New Kingdom
    DIMENSIONS 2 7/8 × 5 13/16 × 5 3/4 in. (7.3 × 14.7 × 14.6 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 11.665
    CREDIT LINE Museum Collection Fund
    PROVENANCE Archaeological provenance not yet documented; by March 1911, acquired by Michael Kasira; March 18, 1911, purchased in Egypt from Michael Kasira by Colonel Robert B. Woodward for the Brooklyn Museum.
    Provenance FAQ
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Egyptian alabaster toilet dish in the form of a trussed or sleeping duck. Head curved and joined to front of dish with openwork neck forming handle. Wings and feet incised on underside of dish. Eyes inlaid with black substance. This may be a cover for a stone vessel, which was probably intended to hold paint. Condition: Perfect. One edge of interior of dish has slight depression with brown stains.
    CAPTION Dish in the Form of a Duck, ca. 1336-1327 B.C.E., ca. 1327-1323 B.C.E., or ca. 1323-1295 B.C.E. Egyptian alabaster (calcite) or aragonite, 2 7/8 × 5 13/16 × 5 3/4 in. (7.3 × 14.7 × 14.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 11.665. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.11.665_NegB_print_bw.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, CUR.11.665_NegB_print_bw.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2013
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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