Lot 430
**Originally Listed At $200**
Ancient Near East, Sassanian Empire, ca. 3rd to 7th century CE. A finely crafted pair of bronze hemispherical bowls from the Sassanian Empire, each formed with thin, hammered walls that demonstrate the technical mastery of ancient Persian metalworkers. The exteriors retain a mottled green and brown patina developed over centuries, while the interiors preserve a silvery sheen, revealing traces of their original polish. One bowl bears faint geometric and petal-like motifs incised in shallow relief along the interior, evoking the stylized lotus or rosette patterns favored in Sassanian decorative art. Elegant in form and restrained in decoration, vessels of this type were used for both practical and ceremonial purposes, reflecting the sophistication of Sassanian metalwork and its synthesis of Hellenistic and Persian traditions. Size of larger (floral design): 4.5" W x 2.3" H (11.4 cm x 5.8 cm)
The empire's craftsmen were celebrated throughout the ancient world for their refinement of bronze, silver, and giltware, with objects like this often serving in feasting, ritual libation, or as elite domestic tableware. The symmetry of these bowls, coupled with their subtle ornamentation, illustrates the Sassanian aesthetic ideal of balance and order - qualities that profoundly influenced later Islamic art. Their survival in such well-preserved form offers a tangible connection to one of antiquity's great empires, whose artistry bridged the ancient and medieval worlds.
Provenance: ex-T.F. Holy Lands collection, formed since the 1960s; ex-private collection acquired in the early 2000s; ex-UK collection, from the 1960s
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#199040
- Condition: More petite bowl has old repair visible on exterior and stable hairline fissures. Larger has three small areas of loss to interior basin with stable fissures. Both have age-commensurate surface wear. Otherwise, very nice with good remains of decoration and pretty patina throughout.
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |