Unknown Near Eastern
Guardian Figure

CultureAssyrian
Titles
  • Guardian Figure
Date883–859 BC
MediumGypsum
Dimensionsrelief: 42 1/8 × 26 × 1 1/2 inches (107 × 66 × 3.8 cm)
width of stone and attached backing material: 2 5/8 inches (6.7 cm)

130 lbs.
Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by the Agnes Cullen Arnold Endowment Fund
Object number80.53
Non exposé

Explore Further

Department
Antiquities
Object Type
ProvenanceFound during excavations at Nimrud, Iraq, by Sir Henry Layard, c. 1840s–1853; purchased by Dudley Francis Stuart Ryder (1831–1900), Lord Sandon, 3rd Earl of Harrowby, Sandon Hall, Linconshire, 1853–1900; by inheritance to his younger brother, Henry Ryder (1836–1900), 4th Earl of Harrowby, 1900; by inheritance to his son, John Herbert Ryder (1864–1956), 5th Earl of Harrowby, 1900–1956; by inheritance to his son, Dudley Ryder (1892–1987), 6th Earl of Harrowby, 1956–1980; sold through [Robin Symes, Limited, London, 1980]; purchase by MFAH, 1980.
Exhibition History

Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
The inscription at the top of this panel is one which occurs repeatedly on the panels of the palace of Assurnasirpal II, proclaiming him as the Great King, ruler of the World:
"I placed doors of cedar, cypress, dapranu and meskannu in its doorways. I took in great quantities of put therein silver, gold, tin, bronze, iron and booty from the countries over which I gained dominion." (translation by Andre F. Conradie)

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.

Bracelet
Unknown Indonesian
Late 19th–early 20th Century
Gold, bronze, rubies, diamonds, and garnets
2004.2262
Sarasvati
Unknown Indian
6th century
Sandstone
2004.1661
Ceremonial Dragon Hairpin
Unknown Indonesian
19th–early 20th century
Gold and diamonds
2004.2261
Pectoral
Unknown Indonesian
18th–19th century
Gold
2006.540
Nasir al-Din Shah Playing Card for the Game of As Nas
Unknown North African, Middle Eastern, and Near Eastern
19th century
Watercolor, gold-colored pigments, and lacquer on pasteboard
2017.11.16
Shah or King Playing Card for the Game of As Nas
Unknown North African, Middle Eastern, and Near Eastern
19th century
Watercolor, gold-colored pigments, and lacquer on pasteboard
2017.11.2
Shah or King Playing Card for the Game of Nas
Unknown North African, Middle Eastern, and Near Eastern
19th century
Watercolor, gold-colored pigments, and lacquer on pasteboard
2017.11.8
Ring
Unknown African
1895–1905
Gold
97.1159
Chief's Betel Leaf Bag
Unknown Indonesian
18th–19th century
Gold
2004.2291
Untitled
Robert Gober
2014–2015
Plaster, beeswax, human hair, epoxy putty, cast gypsum polymer, cast pewter, oil, and enamel paint
2016.222
Overall recto
Clay Ketter
1997
Household enamel paint, net wall covering, plastic laminate, wallboard compound and steel corner bead on gypsum wallboard, wood frame
2024.306
Pupil: Pose 1
Katherine Wetzel
1997–1999
Gelatin silver print
99.188