Elliptical bowl

This dish is composed of a series of gilded repousse designs with engraved details originating around a central unit of four long-legged birds whose heads adjoin each other.Six birds with long curving tails and short bodies enclosed by medallions surround this central unit. In the corners of the dish are four more birds of similar design to the ones in the central unit. A series of lines made up of small "dots" divides the dish into 19 diamond-shaped compartments. Floral motifs punctuate the compartments around the birds.

Elliptical bowls of this form are a well-attested type of late Sasanian silver vessel, used for drinking wine. The organization of the decoration in diamond-shaped compartments is found on late Sasanian vessels of other shapes and on works in other media, including textiles.

Freer Gallery of Art Collection

Silk Road Exhibition (August 18 to December 25, 2011)

Ancient Art of the Near East (November 21, 2009 to December 1, 2011)

Luxury Arts of the Silk Route Empires (May 9, 1993 to January 28, 2007)

Sasanian Silver: Late Antique and Early Mediaeval Arts of Luxury from Iran (August 13 to September 17, 1967)