Object Description
A beautiful, Hellenistic-period, Parthian silver-gilt bowl. The vessel features a bell-shaped bowl with everted flaring rim, raised from a single sheet of silver. The outside of the bowl is left free of decoration. Inside, the vessel begins with an inner, raised rim decorated with wreath ornamentation. Below this is a frieze of parcel-gilt, featuring geometric patterns, known as stepped battlements. A silver band follows, sitting above the central, large parcel-gilt frieze. This is richly decorated with an elaborate garland of leaves and flowers, flanked by two bands of undulating scroll-motifs. Towards the base of the bowl is a central floral medallion, forming a beautiful eight-leaf radiating calyx design. The larger leaves formed with a scalloped edge. An absolute masterpiece of Parthian metalwork.
Date: Circa 2nd – 1st century BC