Plate

Object Details

• Description

  From a line about 1 cm. above the foot ring, extending to the rim, the exterior of the plate is vertically fluted, the fluting radiating from base to rim. A second concentric gilded band encircles most of the plate interior, which is almost entirely finished with a honeycombed surface. In the center a small medallion, defined by a gilded band, encloses a recumbent ram or wild sheep shown in profile facing right, carved in low relief.

  Weight: 489.6 g.

• Inscriptions

  Within ring foot, inscription in Middle Persian, giving the name of the owner and the weight of the vessel: "zwlp'n S 30 W ZWZN 2, "Zurwan/Zorban, 30 staters and 3 drahms." The reading and translation of the inscription were made by Philippe Gignoux, École Practique des Haute Études, Paris, in a letter dated 5 September 1990.

• Collection

  Arthur M. Sackler Collection

• Exhibition History

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

  Glass, Gilding, and Grand Design: Art of Sasanian Iran (224-642) (February 14 to May 20, 2007)

  Le Perses Sassanides ou les Fastes d'un empire oublie (The Persian Sasanians, Luxury Goods from a Forgotten Empire)" (September 15, 2006 to May 20, 2007)

  Les Perses sassanides (224-642): Fastes d'un empire oublie (September 15 to December 30, 2006)

  Discovery and Deceit: Archaeology and the Forger's Craft (October 11, 1996 to May 18, 1997)

  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

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  600s, 700s

• Topic

  Gilding, Hammering, Silver, Art, Animals, Carving, Ancient Near Eastern Art, Sasanian period (ca. 224 - 651), Sheep, Chasing, Metal-work

• Culture

  Iranians, Middle Easterners

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)

• On View

  Yes