Bowl with a male bust within a medallion
Unknown Artist
ca. early 4th century CE
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Diam. 23.3-23.6 H. 7.2 Thickness at rim: 0.44-0.56 Weight 597g
Classification
Metalwork-Vessels
Culture & Period
Sasanian · Sasanian
Department
Ancient Near Eastern Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1955
Accession Number
55.57
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite silver bowl, dating to the early 4th century CE, hails from the Sasanian Empire, a of ancient Persia that flourished from 224 to 651 CE. Crafted by an unknown artist, it measures about 23.5 cm in diameter and weighs substantial 597 grams, thin rim (0.44-0.56 cm thick) showcasing the advanced metalworking skills of the era. Adorning the interior is a striking male bust framed within a medallion, rendered in profile—a motif echoing Hellenistic influences blended with Sasanian grandeur. Sasanian silver vessels like this one were more than practical tableware; they symbolized wealt...