Beschreibung:

NEAR EASTERN PERSIAN SILVER COMMEMORATIVE BOWL Sassanian Empire, 224-651 AD A sheet silver bowl of hemispherical profile with thickened rim; to the inner face a central engraved design depicting two crowned figures on a couch or patterned spread; the left figure clean-shaven with long robe, patterned coat, hemispherical crown with mantle to the rear, surmounted by a disc or orb, the right hand raised, the left hand offering a bottle; the right figure bearded and reclining, wearing a shorter robe fastened at the chest, with inclined waist belt fastened at the left hip, billetted straps to the shoulders and collar, the crenellated crown expanding in profile with sun and crescent moon above, the hair extending to the shoulder, the left hand at the hip and right hand clutching a billetted ring; behind the figure on the right, a rhyton. 345 grams, 16 cm diameter (6 1/4"). Very fine condition. Extremely rare and important. Provenance Property of a London collector, acquired early 1960's. Footnotes The scene appears to record the exchange of gifts between two rulers, probably in conclusion of a treaty. One bas relief at Naqsh-e-Rostam shows the investiture of Ardashir I, in which the exchange of a ring forms part of the ceremony. Another relief at the same site shows the triumph of the Sassanian monarch, Shapur I, over the Roman Emperor Valerian in 260 AD, in which the mounted Sassanian king wears a crenellated crown surmounted by an orb.