Plaque Fragments

Object Details

• Description

  \S1987.102a and b are two silver sheet metal fragments which originally belonged to the same object. They are both decorated in repoussé and chased technique with male figures moving in procession to the right. The larger fragment (S1987.102b) depicts two figures carrying weapons; above them are two vultures and a fly eating the head of a gazelle. The figure on the left carries a knife or dagger in one hand, and holds a spear upright in the other. The figure on the right holds a mace. Both figures have long hair and beards, and are dressed in crosshatch-pattern kilts and fringed mantles. The smaller fragment (S1987.120a) depicts a male figure similar to the ones just described; he carries a mace. The hind quarters of an animal (feline?) are just visible to the left of the male figure. Both fragments have circles with whorl patterns in the field next to the figures, apparently used as a fill ornament. They both also preserve small holes for nails, to attach the metal sheet to wood.

• Origin

  Northwest Iran

• Credit Line

  Gift of Arthur M. Sackler

• Type

  Jewelry and Ornament

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 0s, BCE 1000s

• Topic

  Art, Ancient Near Eastern Art, Vulture, Gazelle, Men, Iron Age II (ca. 1250 - 800 BCE), Iron Age I (ca. 1450 - 1250 BCE)

• Culture

  Iranians, Middle Easterners

• Object Type

  Ornaments, Jewelry