Description:

Ancient Near East, Babylon, Old Period, ca. 1894 to 1595 BCE. A beautiful stone weight in the form of a stylized duck, hand-carved from black basalt. The head of the duck is turned 180 degrees and rests atop the rounded back, and the bulbous body tapers gently downward to a stable base. Stone weights like this were used to conduct business and set rigid penalties against individuals who used false weights or claimed a false or incorrect weight for their product. The most common form was a simple barrel-shaped weight; however, weights in the form of a duck were also popular. Size: 2.1" W x 1.8" H (5.3 cm x 4.6 cm).

Published in: "Beloved by Time: Four Millennia of Ancient Art." Fortuna Fine Arts, Ltd., New York, 2000, p. 20, fig. 31.

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Richard Wagner collection, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA, acquired from David Brooks Gallery, New York, USA in 1967

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#144150

  • Condition: Small chipping to base and duck neck, with light softening to some finer details, and light encrustations within some recessed areas. Light earthen deposits throughout.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

May 9, 2019 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 24.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000