Details

LOT 0253

Sasanian Silver-Gilt Jar with Dancing Girls

6TH-7TH CENTURY A.D.

7 3/8 in. (481 grams, 18.7 cm).

Piriform in profile with flared foot, thick ropework collar above the shoulder, socketted rim; repoussé frieze depicting three nude dancing girls in vigorous motion with draped swags of cloth and holding cymbals; between, a peacock, small boy with a vase and another holding a dove; old collector's labels to underside.

Provenance

Private collection, 1960s.

Accompanied by a report by Professor François de Blois, Affiliated Researcher at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Cambridge.
Accompanied by a positive scientific statement from Striptwist Limited, a London-based company run by historical precious metal specialist Dr Jack Ogden, reference number 170163.
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.12482-229825.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Literature

Cf. Godard, A., The art of Iran, Paris, 1962; Ghirsman, R., Persian Art. The Parthian and Sassanian Dynasties, New York, 1962, figs.256, 404 (Italian Edition, 1962) for parallels; Ghirshman, R., ‘Notes Iraniennes V, Scènes de banquet sur l'argenterie sassanide’ in Artibus Asiae, Vol. 16, No.1/2 (1953), pp.4+51-76, figs.5-6-7-9, for further parallels; see also British Museum inv. no.124094 (Province of Mazandaran), in Demange, F., Les Perses sassanides. Fastes d'un empire oublié (224-642), Paris, 2007, cat.38, p.101; Minardi, M., ‘A Four-Armed Goddess from Ancient Chorasmia: History, Iconography and Style of an Ancient Chorasmian Icon,’ in Iran, 51:1, pp.111-143.