Furniture element
Unknown Artist
ca. 9th century BCE
Medium
Glass, Egyptian Blue
Dimensions
1.46 x 2.09 x 3.15 in. (3.71 x 5.31 x 8 cm)
Classification
Glass-Ornaments
Culture & Period
Iran · Iron Age II, Hasanlu Period IV
Department
Ancient Near Eastern Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, The Adelaide Milton de Groot Fund, in memory of the de Groot and Hawley families, 1976
Accession Number
1976.233.1
Art Historical Context
This delicate furniture element, crafted around the 9th century BCE during Iron Age II in ancient Iran (Hasanlu Period IV), offers a glimpse into the sophisticated artistry of the Ancient Near East. Unearthed from the Hasanlu site—a bustling settlement in northwestern Iran destroyed by fire circa 800 BCE—this tiny ornament (just 1.46 x 2.09 x 3.15 inches) likely served as an inlay for high-status furniture, adorning tables or chairs belonging to local elites. Its presence highlights the region's role as a cultural crossroads, blending influences from Mesopotamia, the Levant, and beyond. Made ...