Oval birch box
Unknown Artist
ca. 7th–9th century CE
Medium
Wood, birch bark, paint
Dimensions
2.12 x 6.12 in. (5.38 x 15.54 cm)
Classification
Wood-Vessels
Culture
Alanic
Department
Ancient Near Eastern Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Jacqueline Simcox, 1999
Accession Number
1999.153.2
Art Historical Context
This delicate oval birch box, crafted by an unknown Alanic artist around the 7th–9th century CE, offers a rare glimpse into the daily life and artistry of the Alans, a nomadic Iranian people roamed the Caucasus and regions of the Ancient Near East. Measuring 2.12 x6.12 inches, petite size suggests it was portable personal container—perhaps cosmetics, jewelry, or spices—ideal a mobile lifestyle. Made wood and birch bark coated paint, the box highlights nomadic techniques. Birch bark naturally flexible and water-resistant, was a favored medium among steppe cultures for its durability in harsh c...