Bird Bone Plaque in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, January 2011

Plaque from a Casket with a bird

Date: 4th–5th century

Geography: Made in, Byzantine Egypt

Culture: Coptic

Medium: Bone with polychromy

Dimensions: Overall: 2 7/8 x 2 x 1/8 in. (7.3 x 5.1 x 0.3 cm)

Classification: Ivories

Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1978

Accession Number: 1978.432.2

Description:

Bone plaques were used to decorate couches, chests, and other furniture. Some were carved in relief; others were carved in intaglio with the incised designs often filled with colored wax. Both styles could be used on the same object. The designs frequently represent Dionysiac themes.

Text from: www.metmuseum.org/collections/search-the-collections/1700...