ticketsMember | Make a donation

Roller

ca. 18th century BCE
Not on view
This bronze openwork piece comprises a roller on a pin and a square frame that takes the appearance of two outstretched arms with bracelets at the wrists. Although the exact function of this object is unknown, the rotating roller suggests that a cord, strap, or other piece of fabric would have been fed through the opening. Objects like this roller may have been used as horse trappings, belt buckles, furniture elements, and implements used in the production of textiles.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Roller
  • Period: Old Babylonian
  • Date: ca. 18th century BCE
  • Geography: Mesopotamia
  • Culture: Babylonian
  • Medium: Bronze
  • Dimensions: 2.6 in. (6.6 cm)
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Norbert Schimmel and Schimmel Foundation Inc. Gifts and Rogers Fund, 1980
  • Object Number: 1980.407.3
  • Curatorial Department: Ancient West Asian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Sickle sword, Bronze, Assyrian
Sickle sword
Assyrian
ca. 1307–1275 BCE
Pendants and beads, Gold, Babylonian
Pendants and beads
Babylonian
ca. 18th–17th century BCE
Enthroned deity, Bronze, gold foil, Canaanite
Enthroned deity
Canaanite
ca. 14th–13th century BCE
Helmet with divine figures beneath a bird with outstretched wings, Bronze, gold foil over bitumen, Elamite
Helmet with divine figures beneath a bird with outstretched wings
Elamite
ca. 1500–1100 BCE
Seated goddess with a child, Gold, Hittite
Seated goddess with a child
Hittite
ca. 14th–13th century BCE

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.