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Uncover the story of a copper-alloy sculpture from ancient Mesopotamia as it is CT-scanned by a team of researchers. In this collaborative research project between The Met and the Republic of Iraq, new findings are discovered about the ancient art-making technique of hollow-core lost-wax casting, an innovative breakthrough that is still used by artists today. Recent provenance research by the Museum’s scholars established that the work rightfully belongs to the Republic of Iraq, prompting the Museum to reach out to His Excellency Nazar Al Khirullah, Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to the United States of America, and offer to return the work. During discussions that followed, The Met and Iraq agreed to embark on collaborative research on the sculpture, including sending it for high-powered scanning at a specialized lab in Germany. This partnership demonstrates our shared commitment to advancing the understanding of human history and creativity. The work was returned to the Republic of Iraq in a ceremony at The Met on September 30, 2025. Learn more about this collaboration at Learn more about The Met’s collecting practices at Featured Object: Vessel Holder with Ibex Support, ca. 2600–2350 BCE. Sumerian. Copper alloy, inlaid with shell (lambis truncata) and lapis lazuli Senior Content Strategist: Joan Thompson Chief Digital Content Officer: Douglas Hegley Senior Manager of Media Production: Skyla Choi Managing Producer and Editor: Ann C. Collins Line Producer for Bilderfest GmbH: Laura Sages Supervising Producer for Bilderfest GmbH: Niko Wirth Director: Ann C. Collins Editor: Lucas Groth Cinematographers: Lucas Groth, Daniel Ritter, Luca Zanner, Richard Chisolm Music by: Austin Fisher Sound Recordist: Stefan Seulen Production Coordinator: Hayley Theisen Still Photographer: Nico Tavalai Picture Finishing provided by GOLDCREST POST NY Colorist: Ken Sirulnick, CSI Senior Finishing Artist: Larry Schmitt DI Assist: Dan Dragicevich Data I/O Manager: Michael Del Plato DI Producer: Travis Avitabile Head of Production: Wade Rudolph Sound Finishing provided by GOLDCREST POST NY Re-recording Mixer: Ryan M. Price, CAS Mix Assistant: Basia Elakraa, Alex Uriati Sound Department Manager: Nicole Tessier Special Thanks: His Excellency Nazar Al Khirullah Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to the United States Mr. Ali Fadhil Ali Second Secretary - Legal Section, Embassy of the Republic of Iraq to the United States Dr. Sadeq Ali Hasan Second Secretary - Political Section, Embassy of the Republic of Iraq to the United States Mr. Ammar A. Jarallah Al-Dabagh Counselor / Chief of Protocol, Embassy of the Republic of Iraq to the United States Fraunhofer Institute Miriam Doll Nils Reims Michael Böhnel Paul Lachenauer Scott Geffert Lisa Pilosi Daira Eden Robert Bryanna O’Mara Caitlin Corrigan Clare Davies Chloe Lovelace Mikaela Dilworth Produced by The Metropolitan Museum of Art in Association with Bilderfest GmbH Subscribe for new content from The Met: #TheMet #Art #TheMetropolitanMuseumofArt #Museum © 2025 The Metropolitan Museum of Art
