bowl

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Object Type
Museum number: 1963,1210.1
Description: Silver bowl; thick-walled; cast; inscription; decorated exterior with profile male bust on the central medallion, surrounded by four hunters (the one on the left being identical to the central bust), two wearing crowns similar to late Kidarite coins; originally gilt.
Cultures/periods
Production date: 460-479
Findspot: Found/Acquired: Swat District
Materials: silver; gold
Technique: cast; gilded
Dimensions: Diameter: 15.70 - 16.60 centimetres; Height: 5.70 - 5.90 centimetres; Diameter: 6 inches; Weight: 819.30 grammes; Volume: 630 millilitres
$Inscriptions
Curator's comments: Also published by Hercules Read in 'Archaeologia' vol. 63
Bibliographic references: Dalton 1964a / The treasure of the Oxus with other examples of early oriental metal-work (no.201) (cited as Hephthalite with Indian parallels); NACF 1912 / National Art Collections Fund Ninth Annual Report 1912 (p.43, no. CXI); Sarre F 1922a / Die Kunst des Alten Persien (nos.114-15); Von der Osten H H 1956a / Die Welt der Perser (pl. 109); Göbl 1967 / Dokumente zur Geschichte der iranischen Hunnen in Baktrien und Indien (II, 262-66, III, pls 93-95); Marshak & Krikis 1969 / Čilekskie čaši (pp. 67-76); Gray B 1991a / Post-Sasanian Metalwork (pp.61-62) (compared to bowl from Chilek in Samarkand museum); Nicolle D & McBride A 1996a / Sassanian armies : the Iranian empire early 3rd to mid-7th centuries AD (fig. 33B-D); Seipel W 1996a / Weihrauch und Seide: Alte Kulturen an der Seidenstrasse. Catalogue of the exhibition held at the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Wien, 21 January - 14 April 1996 (pp.267, 413, cat. 133) (cat. entry by St J. Simpson); Simpson 1997c / Review: David Nicolle, 'Sassanian armies: the Iranian empire, early 3rd to mid 7th centuries AD' (p.244); Grenet F 2002a / Regional interaction in Central Asia and Northwest India in the Kidarite and Hephthalite periods (pp. 211-12, pls 5-6); Tokyo National Museum 2003a / Alexander the Great: East-West Cultural Contacts from Greece to Japan (p.117, cat 112); Simpson 2012a / Afghanistan. A Cultural History (pp.84-85)
Location: On display (G33/dc13a/s3)
Exhibition history: 1996 17 Jan-14 Apr, Austria, Vienna, Kunsthistorisches museum, Weihrauch und Seide – geld und Luxus aus dem Antiken Orient 2003 5 Aug-21 Dec, Japan, 'Alexander the Great: East-West Cultural Contacts from Greece to Japan', Tokyo National Museum, 5 Aug-5 Oct 2003; Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, Kobe, 18 Oct-21 Dec 2003
Condition: Most of gilt worn off
Funder name
Previous owner
Acquisition date: 1912
Acquisition notes: Given by Max Bonn, Esq. 1912; said to be from the river Swat.
Department: Asia
Registration number: 1963,1210.1
Additional IDs: Miscellaneous number: 124087 (WAA big number); Miscellaneous number: AF.201; Miscellaneous number: OT 201 (second edition)

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