The strong sculptural traditions of pre-Islamic India continued to some extent during the later period, when figural elements such as this parrot were used as finials and other types of embellishment. The informal choice of subject and the simplicity of style suggest that this piece probably belonged in a provincial, rather than imperial, court setting. Ubiquitous in Indian life and often depicted in Mughal and Deccan paintings, parrots were also known in literature of the Mughal period, such as in the Tutinama (Tales of a Parrot). Object Details Title: Finial in the Form of a Parrot Date: 17th–18th century Geography: Attributed to Northern India Medium: Brass Dimensions: H. 5 3/4 in. (14.6 cm) L. 11 in. (27.9 cm) Classification: Metal Credit Line: Gift of Robert W. and Lockwood De Forest, 1919 Accession Number: 19.135.3