Object Details
Description
Bottle with repousse relief of three Dionysiac figures moving toward the right and separated by three spirally fluted columns topped by a bird on acanthus. Hammered, chased, and gilded.
Label
A large group of Sasanian silver and gilt vases of similar shape illustrates themes and motifs connected with the cult of Dionysos, the ancient Greek god of wine and ecstatic experience. Of this group, however, only this particular example depicts the god himself.
Appropriately, this imagery is found on vessels such as this one, which was used to contain wine. Elaborately decorated silver and gilt examples of this shape were made toward the end of the Sasanian period, the sixth and seventh centuries, as luxury banqueting equipment.
Provenance
To 1965
Unknown collector [1]
To 1965
Paul and Marguerite Mallon, Rome, Zurich, and Paris, agent for an unknown collector [2]
From 1965
Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Paul and Marguerite Mallon, Rome, Zurich, and Paris [3]
Notes:
[1] Paul and Marguerite Mallon acted as an agent for an unknown collector. See correspondences between Marguerite Mallon and the Director of the Freer Gallery of Art, John Pope; copies in the object file. See also Freer Gallery of Art Purchase List after 1920 file, Collections Management Office.
[2] See note 1.
[3] See note 1.
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Exhibition History
Feast Your Eyes: A Taste for Luxury in Ancient Iran (February 4, 2012 - ongoing)
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)
Ancient Near Eastern Metalware (December 18, 1984 to February 24, 1986)
Pre-Islamic Metalwork from the Near East (April 15, 1983 to April 4, 1984)
Art of the Near East (August 21, 1977 to December 14, 1979)
Near Eastern Art (June 15, 1973 to May 7, 1975)
2500 Years of Persian Art—Paintings, Metalwork (February 10, 1972 to June 15, 1973)
Near Eastern Art—Paintings, Metalwork (August 18, 1967 to February 10, 1972)
Near Eastern Art (January 1, 1963 to August 18, 1967)
Previous custodian or owner
Paul Mallon (1884-1975)
Marguerite Mallon (died 1977)
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Date
6th-7th century
Period
Sasanian period
Accession Number
F1965.20
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
Vessel
Medium
Silver and gilt; hammered, repousse, chased, gilded
Dimensions
H x Diam (overall): 18.2 × 11.1 cm (7 3/16 × 4 3/8 in)
Origin
Iran
On View
East Building (Arthur M. Sackler Gallery), Gallery 21: Feast Your Eyes: A Taste for Luxury in Ancient Iran
Related Online Resources
Google Arts & Culture
See more items in
National Museum of Asian Art
Data Source
National Museum of Asian Art
Topic
gilding
chasing
repoussé
hammering
metal
silver
bird
Sasanian period (ca. 224 - 651)
Iran
Ancient Near Eastern Art
Link to Original Record
Record ID
fsg_F1965.20