Flint in the Form of a Bird

Description

This flint is ground on one side and ripple-flaked on the other, indicating the date. Nonrepresentational flints were tools and weapons. Representational ones like this, however, were undoubtedly tomb gifts and never used. The type of bird represented is a Guinea fowl or quail. A number of Egyptian flints in this form are known although this one is one of the largest and is of exceptional quality.

Provenance

(Rupert Wace Ancient Art Limited, London, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art) (?-1995); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1995-)

Flint in the Form of a Bird

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4000–3000 BCE

Accession Number

1995.40

Medium

tan-colored flint

Dimensions

Overall: 5.2 x 5.2 cm (2 1/16 x 2 1/16 in.)

Classification

Implements

Museum

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, United States

Credit Line

John L. Severance Fund