A SILVER 'FLORAL' PHIALE

Iran, Median empire, 7th - 6th century BCE

Footnotes

伊朗 米底王國（西元前七世紀至西元前六世紀）銀花瓣紋篚簾

The present circular shallow bowl, carefully hammered and shaped from high-quality silver, is an ancient metal ritual vessel of significant historical and artistic importance. Its surface, weathered by time, exhibits a warm silver-gray luster with natural oxidation marks, exuding a profound sense of history. Its most striking feature lies in the intricate floral petal patterns adorning its surface. These motifs, rendered in high relief, exhibit elegant forms and fluid lines. Inspired by flowers common to the Iranian Plateau, such as lotus, rose, or primrose, they undergo artistic abstraction to achieve a highly stylized yet rhythmically organic decorative effect. The petals form layered, rhythmic bands resembling floral crowns, garlands, or sacred halos, carrying profound symbolism often associated with life, fertility, nature worship, and divine beauty. The vessel exhibits a well-proportioned form with rounded edges, likely serving as a tray, receptacle, or ritual vessel for holding offerings, fruits, wine vessels, or ceremonial items. It played a significant role in religious sacrifices, royal banquets, or important ceremonies within the Median kingdom. Silver itself symbolized wealth, power, and sacredness in the ancient Near East. Combined with the intricate floral petal decoration, it further emphasizes its noble status as an exclusive vessel for the aristocracy or royalty. This piece is not only a masterfully crafted metalwork artifact but also a concentrated embodiment of the early civilization, religious beliefs, and aesthetic sensibilities of the Median Kingdom. It reflects the advanced achievements of ancient Iranian plateau civilizations in metalworking, decorative arts, and ritual culture, holding significant historical, artistic, and archaeological research value.

The Median Kingdom (7th – 6th centuries BCE), an important early power in ancient Iran, was founded by the Medes with its capital at Ecbatana (modern-day Hamadan, Iran). Under King Deyoces, the kingdom achieved initial unification. During the reign of Cyaxares (c. 625–585 BC), its power reached its zenith. Allying with the emerging Neo-Babylonian Empire, they jointly overthrew the Assyrian Empire (612 BC), thereby establishing their hegemony in West Asia. As a crucial cradle of Persian civilization, the political institutions and military systems of the Median Kingdom laid the groundwork for the subsequent formation of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. Legend holds that Cyrus the Great, founder of the Persian Empire, hailed from a Median vassal tribe. He ultimately overthrew Median rule and established the Persian Empire (550 BCE). The Median Kingdom achieved remarkable accomplishments in metalworking, particularly renowned for its silver and bronze artifacts. These objects featured extensive use of geometric patterns, animal and plant motifs, and symbolic elements, blending practical utility with religious significance. Their artistic style exerted a profound influence on subsequent Persian civilization. As the first unified Iranian state in history, the Median Kingdom occupied a pivotal transitional position in the evolution of ancient Near Eastern civilizations.

此篚簾是極具歷史與藝術價值的古代金屬禮器。器物整體呈圓形盤狀，以高品質銀材精心捶揲而成，表面因年代久遠而呈現出溫潤的銀灰色光澤，並帶有自然的氧化痕跡，透露出濃厚的歷史氣息。其顯著的特徵在於器表裝飾有多圈精美的​​花瓣紋樣​​，這些紋飾以浮雕技法精工呈現，形態優雅，線條流暢，取材自伊朗高原常見的花卉，如蓮花、玫瑰或櫻草等，經過藝術化處理，呈現出高度抽象而又富有自然韻律的裝飾效果。花瓣層層環繞，形成富有節奏與韻律的裝飾帶，既似花冠、花環，又如神聖的光暈，具有濃厚的象徵意味，常與生命、豐饒、自然崇拜及神聖之美相聯繫。器物整體造型規整，邊緣處理圓潤，可能為托盤、承接器或祭器，用於盛放供品、果實、酒器或禮儀用品，在米底王國的宗教祭祀、王室宴飲或重要儀式中扮演重要角色。銀質材料本身在古代近東象徵著財富、權力與神聖性，結合精緻的花瓣紋飾，更凸顯其作為貴族或王室專屬器具的高貴身份。其不僅是一件工藝精湛的金屬藝術品，更是米底王國早期文明、宗教信仰與審美意識的集中體現，反映了伊朗高原古代文明在金屬工藝、裝飾藝術及禮儀文化方面的高度成就，具有重要的歷史、藝術與考古研究價值。

米底王國（西元前七世紀—西元前六世紀）是古代伊朗高原地區的重要早期強國，由米底人建立，定都埃克巴坦那（今伊朗哈馬丹）。在國王戴奧凱斯統治時期，王國實現了初步統一；至基亞克薩雷斯統治期間（約西元前625—前585年），國力臻于鼎盛，與新興的新巴比倫王國結盟，共同滅亡亞述帝國（西元前612年），由此確立其在西亞地區的霸權地位。作為波斯文明的重要源頭，米底王國的政治制度與軍事體系為後續阿契美尼德波斯帝國的形成奠定了基礎。據傳，波斯帝國的開國君主居魯士大帝出身于米底附屬部族，最終推翻米底統治，建立波斯帝國（西元前550年）。米底王國在金屬工藝領域成就卓著，尤以銀器與青銅器製作聞名。其器物裝飾廣泛採用幾何紋樣、動植物圖案及象徵性元素，兼具實用功能與宗教內涵，藝術風格對後世波斯文明產生了深遠影響。作為伊朗歷史上首個實現統一的政權，米底王國在古代近東文明演進進程中具有承前啟後的關鍵地位。