ITEM: Weight in the shape of a duck MATERIAL: Stone CULTURE: Bronze Age, Mesopotamia PERIOD: 3rd - 2nd millnium B.C DIMENSIONS: 13 mm x 19 mm CONDITION: Good condition PROVENANCE: Ex Belgian private collection, acquired in the 1990s PARALLEL: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Accession number 1980.324.2 Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export license If you bid outside the European Union and win the item, we will have to apply for an export licence for your country and shipping will take 3 to 5 weeks. These weights, often crafted from stone, copper, or clay, were used to measure the value of commodities in trade, especially in the bustling cities of Mesopotamia, like Babylon and Ur. The shape of a duck in these weights is a unique representation of the importance of animals in Mesopotamian culture, where ducks and other birds held symbolic meaning related to fertility, prosperity, and the abundance of resources, which were important themes in the agricultural economy of ancient Mesopotamia. The duck-shaped weights were likely used to measure grain, silver, or other goods, and their design indicates a certain level of craftsmanship and symbolic significance. Weights in ancient Mesopotamia were typically standardized to facilitate trade, with the shape of the duck possibly serving as a means of distinguishing the particular weight or value from other types. It’s important to note that standardized weights were essential for the administration and functioning of the Mesopotamian economy, and such items could be engraved with inscriptions or marks identifying the issuer or the official overseeing the measurement. This ensured both accuracy and accountability in transactions.