**Originally Listed At $300**

Ancient Near East, Mesopotamia, ca. 2nd to 1st millennium BCE. An elegant weight carved by hand from yellow-brown alabaster boasting natural banding which ranges in color from soft white to espresso brown. The weight depicts an abstract duck with its long-beaked head turned back 180 degrees and resting upon its rounded body. A small biconically-drilled suspension hole through the neck enables the composition to be worn as a pendant. The Mesopotamians used sets of standard weights to conduct their business and set rigid penalties against individuals who used false weights. The weights themselves were typically made from marble or others hard stones. The most common form was a simple barrel-shaped weight, however weights in the form of a duck like this example were also popular. Modern necklace cord included. Size (pendant): 0.8" W x 0.925" H (2 cm x 2.3 cm); size (necklace): 22" L (55.9 cm).

Provenance: private southern California, USA collection, acquired before 2000

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#146111

Strung in modern times and wearable as shown. Alabaster pendant is ancient, and necklace cord is modern. Pendant has minor abrasions and nicks to body and head, with softening to some details around face, otherwise intact and very good. Light earthen deposits within drilled suspension hole.