Drinking vessel

Small drinking vessel in the form of a ram’s head; at other end, slightly flared opening whose rim bears a lotus and palmette pattern in repoussé.

Slightly flared nostrils; eyes outlined without indication of pupils; horns, rendered with parallel wavy lines, curl behind ears and protrude from the vessel wall. Hatched lines along front ends of horns.

Historical period(s)
20th century forgery in the style of the Achaemenid period (550-330 BCE)
Medium
Gold hammered, chased, and repoussé
Dimensions
H x W x D: 14.9 x 6.6 x 6.6 cm (5 7/8 x 2 5/8 x 2 5/8 in)
Geography
Iran
Credit Line
Gift of Arthur M. Sackler
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Collection
Accession Number
S1987.32
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Metalwork, Vessel
Type

Beaker

Keywords
forgery, gazelle, Iran, sheep
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Description

Small drinking vessel in the form of a ram's head; at other end, slightly flared opening whose rim bears a lotus and palmette pattern in repoussé.

Slightly flared nostrils; eyes outlined without indication of pupils; horns, rendered with parallel wavy lines, curl behind ears and protrude from the vessel wall. Hatched lines along front ends of horns.

Published References
  • Ann C. Gunter. The Art of Eating and Drinking in Ancient Iran. vol. 1, no. 2 New York. p. 27, fig. 9.
  • Ann C. Gunter. Ancient Iranian Drinking Vessles. vol. 18, no. 9 Hong Kong, September 1987. p. 41, fig. 5.
  • Ann C. Gunter, Paul Jett. Ancient Iranian Metalwork in the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and the Freer Gallery of Art. Washington and Mainz, Germany, 1992. cat. 44, pp. 227-29.
Collection Area(s)
Ancient Near Eastern Art
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