A Sumerian Agate Amulet of a Bird, Middle Bronze Age, ca. 2000 BCE
MA2002
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A finely carved amulet in the form of a stylized bird, worked from lustrous banded agate with natural ombre coloration ranging from pale honey to deeper amber, accentuated by reddish inclusions. The body is smoothly modeled with shallow incised grooves delineating the head, wings, and tail. The carving emphasizes elegant curves and minimalistic detail, characteristic of early Mesopotamian zoomorphic abstraction. Horizontally pierced for suspension, indicating use as a pendant.
Zoomorphic amulets were widely used in Sumerian ritual and daily life, with birds often symbolizing divine messengers or spiritual protection. The use of semi-precious stone, particularly agate, reflects both aesthetic preference and the high status of the object. Likely served as a protective charm or status ornament in a funerary or domestic context.
Compare similar bird-shaped agate amulets from Early Dynastic levels at Ur and Kish (see Woolley, Ur Excavations, Vol. II, British Museum/Oxford University Press, 1934, pl. 107). Also see examples in the collection of the Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin, and the Iraq Museum, Baghdad.
Medium: Agate
Dimensions: Length: 3 1/2 cm (1.37 inches)
Condition: Minor loss to tail with tiny surface nicks and abrasions consistent with age. Otherwise intact and in very good condition overall, retaining excellent translucency and polish.
Provenance: Private New York collection; acquired from Christie’s, early 1990s.
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