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Standing Figure with Feathered Headdress

12th–early 13th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 453
The ornamented headdress, arms, and rich vestments of this figure suggests that figures like this one most likely represent a sovereign’s personal guard, viziers or amirs. Probably meant to decorate the reception hall of a ruler’s court, be it the Seljuq sultan or one of his local vassals or successors, they would parallel and enhance actual ceremonies in the very setting in which they took place. Recent analyses have proven that a traditionally-made gypsum plaster is consistently employed on these figures and on archaeological stuccoes. The figures also display integrated restoration of the first half of the twentieth century, including additions in a more refined gypsum, and modern pigments (some of the reds and synthetic ultramarine blue).

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Standing Figure with Feathered Headdress
  • Date: 12th–early 13th century
  • Geography: Attributed to Iran
  • Medium: Gypsum plaster; modeled, carved, polychrome-painted, gilded
  • Dimensions: H. 47 in. (119.4 cm)
    W. 20 1/2 in. (52.1 cm)
    D. 8 3/4 in. (22.2 cm) (including wall mount)
    Wt. 170 lbs. (77.1 kg)
    from the bottom of the coat to the top of the crown: 46 in. (116.8 cm)
  • Classification: Sculpture
  • Credit Line: Cora Timken Burnett Collection of Persian Miniatures and Other Persian Art Objects, Bequest of Cora Timken Burnett, 1956
  • Object Number: 57.51.18
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

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Standing Figure with Jeweled Headdress, Gypsum plaster; modeled, carved, polychrome-painted, gilded
Standing Figure with Jeweled Headdress
12th–early 13th century
Turquoise Bowl with Lute Player and Audience, Stonepaste; glazed (opaque monochrome), in-glaze- and overglaze-painted, gilded
Turquoise Bowl with Lute Player and Audience
late 12th–early 13th century
Head of a Central Asian Figure in a Pointed Cap, Gypsum plaster; modeled, carved
Head of a Central Asian Figure in a Pointed Cap
12th–early 13th century
Seated Tambourine Player, Stucco; molded and painted
Seated Tambourine Player
12th century
Figure, Brass; cast, chased, gilded
Figure
12th century

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