A PARCEL-GILT SILVER 'BIRD' OVAL CUP

Iran, Second Persian Empire, Sasanian Empire (3rd - 7th century AD)

Footnotes

伊朗 波斯第二帝國 薩珊王朝（西元三世紀至西元七世紀） 銀局部鎏金飛禽舟形杯

The cup presents an overall elliptical, boat-shaped cup form crafted from silver. The central area beneath the interior base serves as the visual focal point of the entire piece, featuring an exquisitely rendered golden bas-relief bird motif. Judging by its appearance, the bird may be a rare peacock species. It is depicted standing sideways with its head slightly raised, exuding an air of elegance and confidence. The distinct crown feathers add a touch of regal dignity to the overall design. In terms of craftsmanship, the artisan employed masterful chiseling techniques to create a striking contrast between the intricate feather textures and the silver base. The tail feathers are particularly voluminous, rendered in a multi-layered, overlapping form that achieves a splendid and dynamic artistic effect. Through the clever contrast between the gilded feathers and the silver ground, these tail feathers are not only exquisitely rendered but also convey a sense of movement, as if gently swaying in the breeze. Each layer of the tail feathers is clearly discernible. Through precise line work and the application of gilding techniques, the artisans imparted rich layering and a three-dimensional effect to the plumage, lending the entire piece an opulent grandeur. As a work from the Sasanian period, this silver cup with partial gilding holds significant historical and cultural value. The Sasanian Empire was renowned worldwide for its exquisite metalwork, with animal motifs being a defining characteristic of its art. The bird design on the cup serves not only as exquisite decoration but likely carries specific cultural symbolism. Within the religious, social, or cultural context of the time, it may have represented auspiciousness, nobility, or power. It reflects the Empire's highly developed artistic standards and unique aesthetic concepts. As vital physical evidence for studying ancient Persian culture, arts, social life, and the evolution of metalworking techniques, it allows later generations to appreciate the extraordinary skill and boundless creativity of artisans from that distant era.

As the second great empire of ancient Persia following the Achaemenid Dynasty, the Sasanian Empire was founded by Ardashir I in 224 AD. With its capital at Ctesiphon and Zoroastrianism as the state religion, the Sassanid Empire's territory encompassed present-day Iran, Iraq, and surrounding regions of Central and West Asia, serving as a pivotal hub along the western Silk Road. The Sassanid Dynasty implemented a highly centralized autocratic monarchy with formidable military strength. It maintained a long-standing rivalry with the Roman Empire, later the Byzantine Empire, becoming the political and economic centre of West Asia. The dynasty achieved remarkable accomplishments in the arts, particularly in metalwork, such as silverware and gilded objects, where craftsmanship reached unparalleled heights. Its decorative motifs frequently featured lifelike depictions of winged lions, stags, and birds, serving both practical functions and as symbols of royal authority. The overall style was opulent, intricate, and exquisitely detailed, exerting a profound influence on the production of gold and silverware in Byzantium, Central Asia, and even Tang Dynasty China. The Sassanid Dynasty represents the golden age of Persian civilization, laying a crucial foundation for the formation and development of later Islamic Persian culture.

該器物整體呈橢圓形舟形杯狀，以銀質為材質。器皿內部底面中央為整個作品的視覺焦點，呈現一隻精巧的金色浮雕飛禽紋飾。據外觀特徵判斷，該飛禽或為孔雀類珍禽。其以側身佇立的姿態呈現，頭部微昂，展現出優雅而自信的神韻。清晰的冠羽裝飾為整體造型平添幾分尊貴氣質。在工藝技法方面，工匠運用精湛的鏨刻技藝，將飛禽羽毛的細膩紋理與銀質基底形成鮮明對比。尾羽造型尤為豐盈，呈現多層次疊壓的形態，展現出華美而靈動的藝術效果。通過鎏金工藝與銀地的巧妙對比，這些尾羽不僅刻畫得惟妙惟肖，更呈現出隨風輕揚的動態美感。尾羽的每一層結構均清晰可辨，工匠通過精准的線條處理與鎏金技法的運用，使羽部呈現出豐富的層次感與立體效果，整體顯得富麗堂皇。作為薩珊王朝時期的作品，這件銀質局部鎏金飛禽舟形杯具有重要的歷史文化價值。薩珊王朝以其精湛的金屬工藝聞名於世，動物紋飾是該時期藝術的典型特徵。杯上的飛禽圖案不僅是精美的裝飾，更可能蘊含著特定的文化象徵意義，在當時的宗教、社會或文化背景下，代表著吉祥、高貴或權力等寓意。它反映了薩珊王朝高度發達的藝術水準和獨特的審美觀念，是研究古代波斯文化藝術、社會生活以及金屬工藝技術發展的重要實物資料，讓後人能夠領略到那個遙遠時代工匠們的高超技藝和無限創造力。

伊朗波斯第二帝國薩珊王朝（西元3世紀—7世紀）作為古代波斯繼阿契美尼德王朝之後的第二大強盛帝國，由阿爾達希爾一世於西元224年創立。該王朝定都泰西封，尊奉瑣羅亞斯德教為國教，其統治疆域涵蓋現今的伊朗、伊拉克以及周邊中亞、西亞地區，是當時絲綢之路西段的關鍵樞紐。薩珊王朝實行高度集權的君主專制統治，軍事力量雄厚，長期與羅馬帝國（後期為拜占庭帝國）抗衡，成為西亞地區的政治與經濟中心。該王朝在藝術領域成就斐然，尤以金屬工藝，如銀器、鎏金器，的製作技藝達到登峰造極的水準。其器物裝飾常見翼獅、牡鹿、飛禽等栩栩如生的紋飾，既兼具實用功能又彰顯王權象徵，整體風格華美瑰麗且繁複精緻，對拜占庭、中亞乃至中國唐代的金銀器製作均產生了深遠影響。薩珊王朝代表著波斯文明的黃金時代，為後世伊斯蘭波斯文化的形成與發展奠定了重要基礎。