Facebook
sprite-icon-instagram
Twitter
sprite-icon-wechat
Weibo
X
sprite-icon-youtube
sprite-icon-accessible
Group 3
sprite-icon-arrow
sprite-icon-audio-description
sprite-icon-calendar
sprite-icon-camera
UI/Chevron/Large/Black
sprite-icon-chevron
Artboard 1
sprite-icon-copyright
sprite-icon-data
sprite-icon-download
sprite-icon-grid
sprite-icon-image
i
sprite-icon-list
sprite-icon-magazine
sprite-icon-maximise
sprite-icon-museum
sprite-icon-osd-minus
sprite-icon-osd-plus
Group 6
sprite-icon-pin
sprite-icon-plus
sprite-icon-print
Fill 1
sprite-icon-share
sprite-icon-shop
sprite-icon-tag
sprite-icon-tea
sprite-icon-ten-percent-tag
Artboard 1
sprite-icon-wallet
sprite-icon-zoom
Skip to main content
Please enable JavaScript in your web browser to get the best experience.
Menu
Main navigation
Visit
Toggle Visit submenu
Back
to previous menu
—
Visit
—
Visit
—
Family visits
—
Group visits
—
Audio app
—
Out-of-hours tours
—
Tours and talks
—
Object trails
—
Accessibility
—
Food and drink
—
Late opening on Fridays
—
Museum map
Exhibitions and events
Collection
Toggle Collection submenu
Back
to previous menu
—
Collection
—
Collection
—
Collection online
—
Galleries
—
Blog
—
The British Museum podcast
Learn
Toggle Learn submenu
Back
to previous menu
—
Learn
—
Learn
—
Schools
—
Communities
—
Adult learning
—
Young people
Membership
Toggle Membership submenu
Back
to previous menu
—
Membership
—
Membership
—
Members' events
—
Young Friends
—
Existing Members
—
Visiting as a Member
Support us
Toggle Support us submenu
Back
to previous menu
—
Support us
—
Donate
—
Corporate support
—
Become a Patron
—
Supporter case studies
—
Become a Volunteer
—
Existing Patrons
—
Leave a legacy
—
American Friends of the British Museum
Secondary navigation
Shop
Search
Donate
Hide menu
figure
Object Type
figure
Museum number
118138
Description
Ivory figure of a couchant calf; eye carved; head turned to right flank; ribs on both flanks; perfect condition; light colour. It belongs to a group of 32 similar artefacts. They were all attached to a base of some sort, most probably the rim of some large vessel, perhaps a circular dish. This object was attached to its base by means of the two holes that it bears in its underside. Also in its underside, it bears the maker's mark.
Cultures/periods
Neo-Assyrian
(Site)
Production date
9thC BC-7thC BC
Excavator/field collector
Excavated by:
William Kennett Loftus
Findspot
Excavated/Findspot:
South East Palace (Nimrud)
Materials
ivory
Technique
carved
drilled
incised
Dimensions
Length:
3.51 centimetres
Width:
1.80 centimetres
Curator's comments
This object is part of a group that includes the following Big Numbers: 118266; 118132-40; 123790-2; 126868-70; 126872-3; 126875-81; 126883; 126882
Bibliographic references
Barnett & Davies 1975a / A catalogue of Nimrud ivories with other examples of Ancient Near Eastern Ivories
(S.362p; Plate CIII)
Strommenger E & Hirmer M 1962a / Funf Jahrtausende Mesopotamien
(pl.265)
Location
Not on display
Condition
Very good.
Subjects
cattle
Department
Middle East
BM/Big number
118138
Registration number
N.858