Plate with king hunting rams
This plate with accession number 34.33, was made in Iran, possibly in the Qazvin area. The medium employed during its development included mercury, silver, niello and inlay. It describes the period Sasanian rulers and their power and superiority during the fifth and the mid of the sixth century.
During the term of the reign of Shapur II, approximately A.D. 310-379, the ruler being a hunter was a symbol that was standard and recognized as a high image (Kleiner 23). The plate got made out of silver with a theme that symbolized the power and prowess that got associated with the Sasanian rulers. In most occasions these plates with the king hunting rams were given to other courts that were neighboring as gifts. Though the identity of the king during this time was unknown, the Sasanian king had a lot of attributes associated with him. These characteristics included; covered globe, a nimbus that contained a beaded border, a globe that in this case was covered, a crown and a fillet. The dating of this plate based on the attributes above and especially the crown makes him get identified as being Peroz, who ruled between, 459 to 454 or Kavad I who had ordered for some distinct years (Kleiner 25). These years included 488-497, and 499-531. The silver bowls that belonged to the Sasanians had shapes hammered in them and got decorated in some elaborate artistic works of art. On the plate described in this paragraph, pieces of silver that were separate were used.
These silver plates got cut into lips providing a high relief to this artistic work. An amalgam of gold and mercury used. This amalgam was gilded allowing it to get decorated at the surface. This decoration included painting which was done by the artist during this period. A metallic alloy containing sulphur and silver was inlaid. This fusion resulted in the shape of the plate hence the colors and surface contours that are evident (Kleiner 23).
The King Yazdgard I, slaying a stag, accession number 1970.6
This plate is an art of work that got found during the third and fourth centuries. The plate of the accession number 1970.6 gets traced to Iran. The medium that was in the application of the making of this plate includes; silver and gilding of mercury (Darya 12).
During the rule of Shapur II, 310-379, hunting of the king was an unusual trait associated with the rulers. Therefore, this became a standard image of royalty that was in use during this time. The motif symbolized the Sasanian rulers’ prowess. In most cases, the plates were given to vassal courts as gifts (Darya 17). Taking into consideration the scene described, it depicts the king slaying a stag that is rearing while standing. The tongue that is protruding from the mouth of the stag shows that it is either dead in the dying process. The identification of the king can be taken to be Yazdgard the First. This analysis gets based on his crown. The head gets topped with a globe that is striated. The striating becomes a fact to consider since in most of his representations; he has a cloth covered one. The rock reliefs of Shapur II confirms his beaded skirt.
The technicality of this plate gets realized in its making. Gilding of the plate takes the most parts of the making process (Kleiner 30). This gilding is in exception of the hands and face of the king above. To create a high relief of the plate, pieces of metals got added. An inscription at the foot of the plate is taken to be that of the king’s name and weight of the plate, though it is too damaged.
Work Cited
Kleiner, Fred. Gardner’s Art through the Ages: A Concise Western History. Nelson Education, 2015.
Darya, Touraj. "The Limits of Sasanian History: Between Iranian, Islamic and Late Antique Studies." Iranian Studies 49.2 (2016): 193-203.
