Plate

Object Details

• Description

  Silver plate with a low ring foot, exterior plain. There is a narrow gilded band on the inner rim, and details of the interior decoration are gilded. Traces of textile impressions are visible without magnification on much of the interior and along section in lower left of interior.

  On the interior are two rampant ibexes flanking a grapevine tree. At the bottom is a large calyx-like container or base, from which grow vines extending to right and left of main trunk. At base, vines cross to form a guilloche pattern.

  Vines terminate in grapes, leaves, rosette and star pattern, and calyxes; the vines are inhabited by peacocks, birds with long tail feathers, and a pair of peahens at the top flanking the upper calyx.

  Weight: 566.9 g.

• Collection

  Arthur M. Sackler Collection

• Exhibition History

  Feast Your Eyes: A Taste for Luxury in Ancient Iran (February 4, 2012 - ongoing)

  Weihrauch und Seide: Geld und Lexus aus dem Antiken Orient (January 21, 1996 to April 14, 1996)

  Incense and Silk: Ancient Cultures Along the Silk Road (January 22 to April 14, 1996)

  Luxury Arts of the Silk Route Empires (May 9, 1993 to January 28, 2007)

  Nomads and Nobility: Art from the Ancient Near East (September 28, 1987 to November 1, 1992)

• Origin

  Iran

• Credit Line

  Gift of Arthur M. Sackler

• Type

  Vessel

• On View

  Sackler Gallery 21: Feast Your Eyes: A Taste for Luxury in Ancient Iran

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

  The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The National Museum of Asian Art welcomes information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  700s, 500s

• Topic

  Gilding, Trees, Silver, Peacock, Art, Ancient Near Eastern Art, Peahen, Grape, Sasanian period (ca. 224 - 651), Chasing, Ibex, Metal-work

• Culture

  Iranians, Middle Easterners

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)

• On View

  Yes