Phoenician Bone Plaque with Stylized Floral Decoration

Description

Phoenician Bone Plaque with Stylized Floral Decoration
Iron Age, ca. 4th–2nd century BC

A finely carved bone plaque decorated with an elaborate stylized floral composition. The design is arranged around a central stem, with elongated leaves or buds rising symmetrically on either side and a large radiating blossom above. The combination of strong symmetry and highly stylized vegetal forms reflects the decorative tradition of Phoenician and Levantine art during the Iron Age, particularly the luxury bone and ivory carvings of the first millennium BC.

The pierced attachment holes indicate that the plaque was originally made to be fixed to a larger object, most probably as a decorative fitting for a wooden casket, piece of furniture, or other luxury furnishing. Similar floral compositions and attachment systems occur among Phoenician and Phoenician-style furniture plaques of the 4th–2nd centuries BC.