fitting;
plaque
- Museum number
- 123939
- Title
- Series: Oxus Treasure
- Description
-
Rectangular gold sheet cut-out plaque: shows a figure walking to the left, wearing a crenellated crown or dentate tiara, a long garment with long sleeves decorated with a row of circles, and shoes or boots; the figure has long hair curled over at the back of the neck, and wears a circular earring in the left ear; collar or torc around the neck; right hand held before the face, left hand holding a lotus-flower; five loops for attachment on reverse.
- Production date
- 5thC BC-4thC BC
- Dimensions
-
Height: 6.15 centimetres
-
Weight: 4 grammes
-
Weight: 53 grains
-
Width: 2.05 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- The figure, like OT 89 (123990), has a rather feminine appearance although Dalton inclined towards a male identification. Moorey (2002: pp. 208-209) refers to ladies on Achaemenid seals wearing similar tiaras and a "veil" hanging down their backs (P.R.S. Moorey: "Novelty and tradition in Achaemenid Syria: the case of the clay 'Astarte plaques'", 'Iranica Antiqua', 37 (2002), pp. 203-18). The lotus is usually identified, by Egyptian analogy, with the blue lotus and presumably regarded as a symbol of regeneration because of its daily cycle of opening and closing.
Regarded by Professor Lolita Nehru as very distinct in facial representation from what she defines as local Bactrian production ("Local traditions in the art of Western Central Asia from the 6th century BC to 1st century AD", lecture, 3 March 2004, Senate House, London).
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
2006 7 Mar-11 Jun, Barcelona, Fundacion La Caixa, 'L'imperi Oblidat'
2005-2006 Sept-Jan, London, BM, 'Forgotten Empire'
1995-2005 17 Nov-Aug BM, G52/IRAN/29a
1994 16 Jun-23 Dec BM, G49/IRAN/29a
1989 Temporary display, BM, Room 35 (Hinton St Mary mosaic staircase)
1975-ca 1990 Jul- BM, Iranian Room [IR], OT case
1931-ca 1939 BM, Room 20: Persian Room
1923-1931 BM, King Edward VII Building: Franks Display
1900- BM, Gold Ornament Room
- Condition
- mden metal pin through hoops on reverse
- Acquisition date
- 1897
- Department
- Middle East
- BM/Big number
- 123939
- Registration number
- 1897,1231.38
- Additional IDs
-
Miscellaneous number: OT 44 (catalogue no)
