Plaque Fragments

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.

Historical period(s)
Iron Age I - II, ca. 1200-900 BCE
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
H x W: 12.9 x 8.5 cm (5 1/16 x 3 3/8 in)
Geography
Northwest Iran
Credit Line
Gift of Arthur M. Sackler
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Accession Number
S1987.120a-b
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Metalwork
Type

Plaque

Keywords
chasing, gazelle, hammering, Iran, Iron Age I (ca. 1450 - 1250 BCE), Iron Age II (ca. 1250 - 800 BCE), man, repousse, vulture, WWII-era provenance
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
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.

Published References
  • The Memorial Volume of the 5th International Congress of Iranian Art and Archaeology: Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, 11th-18th April 1968. 2 vols., Teheran. vol. 1: pp. 163-82.
  • Animal Style Art from East to West. Exh. cat. New York. cat. 6, pp. 23, 51-52.
  • et al. Asian Art in the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery: The Inaugural Gift. Washington, 1987. cat. 8, p. 34.
  • Trudy S. Kawami, John Olbrantz. Breath of Heaven, Breath of Earth: Ancient Near Eastern Art from American Collections. Exh. cat. Seattle, Washington. cat. 38, p. 140.
  • Der Alter Orient. vol. 14 Berlin. cat. 308, pp. 392-93.
Collection Area(s)
Ancient Near Eastern Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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