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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
  • Place Made: Egypt
  • 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)
    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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     <em>Terminal Ornament</em>, 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)