Sasanian Bronze Bowl

A late Kushan or Hephthalites Dynasty discoid pendant with a female deity, possibly Nana, at the centre holding a lotus flower in her right hand, hair elaborately dressed and wearing large earrings, necklace and bracelets; enclosed by a border of stylised bull heads and a double-plaited border, the outer edge with raised bosses; later applied polygonal suspension loop with granulated collars and an oval garnet cabochon. 22.11 grams, 71 mm



Acquired by a Swiss family in the mid-1980s to late 1990s, thence by descent. Private collection, Switzerland, since the late 1990s. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13021-246776.

Nana (Kushan Greek: Νανα, Ναναια, Ναναϸαο, Sogdian Nni) was a Bactrian female deity, a variation of the pan-Asian Nana, a fusion of the Sumero-Babylonian Inanna-Ishtar with a local deity, in her Kušan form with the local (Zoroastrian) Harakhvati Aredvi Sura Anahita. Such syncretism was common among Kušan deities. She was an important patron deity in the Kušan Empire and the most important deity worshipped by Emperor Kaniška (c. 127-150 A.D.).

A restrung necklace composed of carnelian beads and biconvex silver beads, with four lozengiform silver pendants and a hollow-formed bifacial silver triangular pendant, decorated with four rows of interlocking hatched and blank triangles between bands of chevrons on one face, and central floral motif on the other, with a flanged top and suspension loop; with later clasp. 62.2 grams, 46.5 cm



Acquired in the mid-1980s to early 1990s. Private collection, London, UK.

With trumpet-shaped base, thick stem, carinated bowl an everted rim; ribbed band to the equator. 1.06 kg, 16.8 cm



From the collection of a London, UK, gentleman, 1990s.