Hemispherical bowl
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Object Details
- Description
- Small hemispherical bowl with plain rim, interior plain. The exterior is entirely decorated with figures carved in relief, with a gilded background surface. The decoration consists of five figured scenes each framed within arches formed by two rows of bead molding connected by decorated columns. A palmette rises above each column.
- In the primary scene, a male and female are seated on a couch, grasping a wreath. In the scene to the right a servant, his face covered, holding vessels, approaches the couple. In the third scene are two wrestlers; a third figure, perhaps an acrobat, is shown behind them. The fourth scene consists of two male figures playing a board game, probably backgammon. In the final scene are two musicians: a male figure plays the drum, and a female plays an arched harp. At the base of the bowl is a central roundel formed by bead molding, encircling the bust of a female figure who holds a flower.
- Weight: 481 g.
- Collection
- Arthur M. Sackler Collection
- Exhibition History
- Animal-Shaped Vessels from the Ancient World: Feasting with the Gods, Heroes and Kings (September 7, 2018 to January 6, 2019)
- Feast Your Eyes: A Taste for Luxury in Ancient Iran (February 4, 2012 - ongoing)
- Le Perses Sassanides ou les Fastes d'un empire oublie (The Persian Sasanians, Luxury Goods from a Forgotten Empire)" (September 15, 2006 to May 20, 2007)
- Asian Games: The Art of Contest (February 26 to 15 May 2005)
- Luxury Arts of the Silk Route Empires (May 9, 1993 to January 28, 2007)
- Nomads and Nobility: Art from the Ancient Near East (September 28, 1987 to November 1, 1992)
- The Royal Hunter: Art of the Sasanian Empire (Winter 1978)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Arthur M. Sackler
- 7th-8th century
- Period
- Sasanian period or later
- Accession Number
- S1987.105
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- Vessel
- Medium
- Silver and gilt
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 5.7 x 14.3 x 14.3 cm (2 1/4 x 5 5/8 x 5 5/8 in)
- Origin
- Iran
- On View
- Sackler Gallery 21: Feast Your Eyes: A Taste for Luxury in Ancient Iran
- Related Online Resources
- Google Cultural Institute
- See more items in
- Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection
- Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
- Topic
- gilding
- chasing
- hammering
- carving
- metal
- silver
- flower
- playing
- music
- woman
- man
- backgammon
- Sasanian period (ca. 224 - 651)
- Iran
- Ancient Near Eastern Art
- Record ID
- fsg_S1987.105
- Metadata Usage (text)
- Not determined
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ye3de6ec93d-02db-4ea1-8ad4-58d30f16dcb9
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