About this artwork
Remarkable for its lifelike detail, this plaque depicts a fledgling quail, better known to literate Egyptians as the hieroglyph for the sound w. Plaques like this one that show animals, deities, and royalty were a relatively late addition to the ancient Egyptian artistic repertoire, first appearing around 664 BCE. Their function remains a mystery—they may have been used as sculptors’ models in the training of artists, dedicated in temples as gifts to the gods, or perhaps both.
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Status
- On View, Gallery 50
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Department
- Arts of Africa
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Culture
- Ancient Egyptian
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Title
- Plaque Depicting a Quail Chick
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Place
- Egypt (Object made in)
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Date
- 332 BCE–30 BCE
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Medium
- Limestone
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Dimensions
- 12 × 13.2 × 1.3 cm (4 3/4 × 5 1/4 × 1/2 in.)
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Credit Line
- Museum Purchase Fund
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Reference Number
- 1920.256
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IIIF Manifest
- https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/121724/manifest.json
Extended information about this artwork
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.