An impressive and exceptionally substantial pair of large Persian silver vases, finely hand-worked in Isfahan (Esfahan), Iran, and bearing maker’s marks. Executed in high-grade .84 silver, the pair has a combined weight of approximately 10 kilograms (10,000 grams), giving the vessels an unusually heavy and luxurious presence.
Each vase is conceived in a grand baluster form with a broad, full-bodied profile, raised on a spreading circular pedestal foot and terminating in a tall waisted neck with a dramatic flared, scalloped mouth. Their unusually generous proportions—both tall and notably broad or “fat” in profile—provide an expansive surface for the extraordinary amount of hand decoration.
The bodies are covered almost entirely with deeply chased, repoussé and hand-engraved decoration, displaying the remarkable density and intricacy associated with fine Isfahan silverwork. Rather than relying primarily on repetitive ornament, the silversmith has treated the surfaces almost as narrative canvases.
Multiple registers contain elaborate figural scenes inspired by Persian history, court life, literature and epic tradition. Numerous figures appear in traditional Persian dress...
Category
20th Century Silver Centerpieces