Description:

Ancient Near East / Central Asia, Sasanian (Sassanian / Sassanid) Empire, ca. 2nd to 7th century CE. A cast bronze bowl, known as a phiale, with thin, steep walls, a flat base, a series of four round, floral bosses on the base, and, in tondo, a relief peacock in a round disc. Teardrop forms circle around the peacock. The textured interior of this basin must have looked stunning when it was first made, gazed upon through a sheen of liquid. Sasanian elite valued beautiful metal objects, especially those that either were or looked like silver and gold. Many of these objects drew inspiration from Greco-Roman artwork, but others, like this bowl, had more recognizably Middle Eastern motifs, like the peacock here. Sasanian artistic culture spread along the Silk Road, influencing metalwork in western Iran and the Caspian Sea, and bowls like this one have been found as far afield as the eastern coast of China. Size: 6.7" W x 1.6" H (17 cm x 4.1 cm)

Provenance: private California, USA Collection

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#135172

  • Condition: Slight bending to form. Very dark patina on surface, with nice preservation of motifs.

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August 2, 2018 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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