Black stone pendant in the form of a bird, circa 2500–1500 BC, on a sculptural gold necklace.
The centrepiece is an exceptional example of portable art, originating from ancient Mesopotamia. The late Professor Wilfred George Lambert, a leading authority in Assyriology, thought it to be a bird in flight. The beautifully contoured surface, worn smooth through touch over 4,000 years, captures a minimalism we might associate with modern sculpture.
The elemental form suggests a universal or symbolic property, perhaps originally serving as a talisman. The carving is freely suspended on an 18-carat gold handmade necklace, the gently sprung design suggesting a vine or twig.
