marshak State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg: Sasanian Metalwork

State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg :: Sasanian Metalwork

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This section contains primarily the objects described by Trever and Lukonin, whose detailed and elegantly produced catalogue is the best guide to the Hermitage's important collection of Sasanian silver. I follow their chronological ordering. There is some debate, of course, as to what objects are of Sasanian provenance and which ones may have been produced after the Sasanian period closely imitating Sasanian models. The latter may be found elsewhere in our selection, either in the section under "Middle East" or that for "Eastern Iran/Central Asia." In one or two instances I have inserted here items not described by Trever and Lukonin. While the focus of these pages is the collection of the Hermitage, it seems useful to provide on a separate page as well Sasanian objects found in other museums. Those may be accessed by clicking here.

References:

Here are select portions of the maps in Smirnov showing some of the heaviest concentrations of the finds of Eastern metalwork in the former Russian Empire. The captions are in Russian; the numbers are those of the Smirnov portfolio.


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Dish depicting Shapur II hunting mountain sheep.
310-320s CE. Silver. Dia 23 cm.
Found 1912 near Malaia Pereshchepina, Poltava prov. (Ukraine) with other Sasanian metalwork.
Inv. no. 272. Trever & Lukonin No. 2.
Dish with goddess (?Anahita) on panther & Zoroastrian gods and animals.
270s CE. Silver. Dia. 23 cm.
Sogdian inscr. in Samarkand script on reverse.
Found 1886 vill. Nizhniaia Shakharovskaia, Perm prov. with T. & L. no. 6 and a late 7th-early 8th c. dish from Khwarezm. Acquired 1891. Inv. no. S-74.
Pub.: Smirnov no. 36; Trever and Lukonin no. 1.
Dish with King of Kings Shapur II (309-379) hunting lions.
310-320 CE. Silver. Dia. 22.9 cm.
Found 1927 vill. Turushev, Viatka prov. with several other Byzantine, Sasanian and Central Asian dishes, including T & L no. 13. Inv. no. S-253.
Pub.: Trever and Lukonin no. 3; Scythian 1969, no. 83; Hermitage website.
Dish depicting Shapur III killing leopard.
Silver. Dia. 21.7 cm.
Sogdian inscr. Samarkand script: "37 staters."
Found 1907 vill. Klimova, Solikamskii u., Perm prov. with other Sasanian and Central Asian silver dishes. Acq. from Archaeological Commission 1908; Inv. no. S-42.
Pub.: Smirnov no. 308; Trever and Lukonin no. 4.
Dish with Shapur III and an onager.
Silver. Dia. 22.5 cm.
Middle Persian inscr.: "Property of Spandamart the lawyer."
Probably obtained in Perm prov. Ca. 1870 purch. at Nizhnii Novgorod Fair by merchant Sirontinin; sold to Stroganov for his coll. in Rome, whence purchased and given to Hermitage in 1911. Inv. no. S-5.
Pub.: Smirnov no. 52; Trever and Lukonin no. 5.

Dish depicting Shapur III hunting boars.
Silver. Dia. 23 cm.
Middle Persian and Sogdian inscrs.: "Ramen. 230 drachm." "Keeper of the Seal Vagch."
Found 1886 vill. Nizhniaia Shakharovskaia, Krasnoufimskii u., Perm prov. along with other Central Asian silver dishes. Acquired 1891 from Archaeological Commission. Inv. no. S-16.
Pub.: Smirnov no. 58; Trever and Lukonin, no. 6.

Dish depicitng Varakhran hunting.
390-420s CE. Silver. Dia. 27.6-28 cm.
Sogdian inscr. Samarkand script: "Lord Shav of Chach, i.e. Chach land. 39 staters."
Found 1893 vill. of Kerchevoe, Cherdyn u., Perm prov. Acq. 1894 from Archaeological Commission; Inv. no. S-24.
Pub.: Smirnov no. 53; Trever and Lukonin no. 7; Hermitage website.
Dish with Varachran V (?) hunting.
Silver.
Modern reproduction made in Rawalpindi, copying Smirnov no. 54 (now British Museum).
Pub.: Smirnov no. 55.
Dish with King of Kings Peroz (457-483) hunting.
Silver. Dia. 24.6 cm.
Found 1936 vill. Anikovskaia, Perm prov. with T & L no. 22. Inv. no. S-216.
Pub.: Trever and Lukonin no. 8; Scythian 1969, no. 84.
Dish depicting Chosroes II and four notables (detail).
Silver. Dia. 26 cm.
Found prior to 1908, vill. of Strelka, Perm prov. Acq. 1926;
Inv. no. S-520. Trever and Lukonin no. 9.
Dish with royal hunt.
1st half 7th c. Silver, gilding. Diameter 20.3 cm.
Found 1941 Ufa, Bashkir Autonomous Republic. Acquired 1945. Inv. no. S-297.
Pub.: Trever & Lukonin no. 10; Scythian 1969, no. 91.


Dish with king hunting tigers.
1st half 7th c. Silver, gilding. Dia. 24.8 cm.
Inscr.: "Weight 244. Property of Perozan."
Found Maltsevo, Perm prov. Bought for S.G. Stroganov 1878; acq. 1925. Inv. no. S-13.
Pub.: Smirnov no. 60; Trever and Lukonin no. 11; Stroganoff no. 195, pp. 100, 236.
Dish with royal hunt for lion and tiger.
End 6th-beg. 7th c. Silver. Dia. 19.2 cm.
Found prior to 1903; purchased in Kutais, Georgia. Acq. 1905 from Archaeological Commission; Inv. no. S-58.
Pub.: Smirnov no. 287; Trever and Lukonin no. 12.
Dish depicting Prince Bahram Gur with his slave Azade hunting.
End 6th- 1st half 7th c. Silver. Dia. 21.7 cm.
Middle Iranian inscription on reverse.
Found 1927 vill. Turusheva, Viatka prov. with other Iranian and Byzantine silver. Inv. no. S-252.
Pub.: Trever and Lukonin no. 13; Hermitage website.
Dish depicting the "Clock of Chosroes."
7th century. Silver. Dia. 21.6 cm.
Found 1907 vill. of Klimova, Perm prov. with other Sasanian and Byzantine silver dishes. Acq. 1908; Inv. no. S-43.
Pub.: Trever and Lukonin no. 15.
Dish depicting royal feast.
8th c. Silver. Dia. 23.2 cm.
Found 1909 vill. of Lukovka, Perm prov. Acq. 1913 from Archaeological Commission. Inv. no. S-47.
Pub.: Trever and Lukonin no. 16.

Dish with hunting scene.
8th c. Silver. Dia. 28.3 cm.
Middle Iranian inscr.
Found before 1835; purch. 1840. Inv. no. S-247.
Pub.: Smirnov no. 61; Trever & Lukonin no. 17; Darkevich no. 115, pl. 2, pp. 57-59 (doubts Sasanian, but suggests Khorosan, end 7th-beg. 8th c.).

Bottle with five female figures.
5th-6th c. Silver, gilding. H. 17.2 cm.
Found 1896 vill. of Kvatspileevo, Perm prov. with silver dish of 4th-6th c. from Afghanistan or NW India. Acq. 1898. Inv. no. 18.
Pub.: Smirnov no. 81; Trever and Lukonin no. 18.


Bottle depicting four female dancers.
5th-6th c. Silver, gilding. H. 16.5 cm.
Middle Iranian and Sogdian inscrs.
Found 1896 Limarovka, Starobel'skii uezd, Khar'kov prov. Acq. from collection of Stroganovs, Rome. Inv. no. S-35.
Pub.: Smirnov no. 80; Trever and Lukonin no. 19.
Flask depicting six female figures.
6th-7th c. Silver, gilding. H. 16 cm.
Sogdian inscr. in Bukhara script.
Acq. in 1931 from Countess L. S. Lebedeva in Sverdlovsk. Inv. no. S-256. Pub.: Trever and Lukonin no. 20.



Ewer depicting senmurv and the Tree of Life.
6th - beg. 7th c. Silver, gilding. H. 33 cm.
Found 1823 vill. of Pavlovka, Starobel'skii u., Khar'kov prov. Inv. no. S-61.
Pub.: Smirnov no. 83; Trever and Lukonin no. 21; Darkevich, pp. 63-64; Hermitage website.
Lobed dish.
End 6th-1st half 7th c. CE. Silver. Dia. 14.9 cm.
Found 1912 near Malaia Pereshchepina, Poltava prov. (Ukraine) with other Sasanian metalwork.
Inv. No. 271. Trever and Lukonin No. 25.
Dish depicting eagle holding a woman.
6th c. Silver, gilding. Dia. 22 cm.
Found 1936 vill. of Anikovskaia, Perm prov. with T & L no. 8 and a 7th-century Central Asian cup. Inv. no. S-217.
Pub.: Trever and Lukonin no. 22.
Dish depicting leopard and tree.
1st half 6th c. Silver, gilding. Dia. 22.8 cm.
Found 1907 vill. of Klimova, Perm prov. with other items of Sasanian, Central Asian and Byzantine Silver up to 8th c. in date. Acq. 1908 from Archaeological Commission.
Inv. no. S-41.
Pub.: Smirnov no. 41; Trever and Lukonin no. 23; Scythian 1969, no. 93.
Dish depicting pheasant.
1st half 7th c. Silver, gilding. Dia. 20.3 cm.
Middle Pers. inscr.: "Chosroes'."
Found 1887 vill. Churinskaia, Glazovskii u., Viatka prov. along with Smirnov no.111. Acq.1891 from Archaeological Commission. Inv. no. S-18.
Pub.: Smirnov no. 90; Trever and Lukonin no. 24.
Cup, depicting eagle with a gazelle in its claws.
Silver, gilding. Dia. 12.5 cm.
Found 1941 in Ufa, Bashkir ASSR with other Sasanian silver dish (T & L no. 10). Acq. 1945.
Trever and Lukonin no. 29.




Dish with hunting scenes and a senmurv.
End 6th-beg. of 7th c. Silver, gilding. Dia. 13.4 cm.
Purchased prior to 1895 Terskaia obl. Inv. no. S-57.
Publ.: Smirnov no. 70; Trever and Lukonin no. 26.

Flask with image of face and two hunting scenes; on neck senmurvs.
6th-7th c. Silver, gilding. H. 14.5 cm.
Ex-Prince V. N. Orlov; then Moscow Armory, from which acquired in 1925. Inv. no. S-60.
Pub.: Smirnov no. 82; Trever and Lukonin no. 28; Scythian 1969, no. 86.
Flask with image of face.
Silver.
Found 1905 Mastiugina, Voronezh prov. Ex-coll. of Archaeological Commission.
Pub.: Smirnov no. 304.

Bottle with birds and a senmurv in diamond design.
6th-7th c. Silver, gilding. H. 19 cm.
Purchased in Dagestan; acq. 1903 from Archaeological Commission. Inv. no. S-70.
Pub.: Smirnov no. 288; Trever and Lukonin no. 30.

Bottle depicting eagle and gazelle in pearl-decorated oval.
6th -7th c. Silver, gilding. H. 18.5 cm.
Middle-Iranian inscr.
Found 1897 vill. of Kurilova, Perm prov. Acq. 1905 from Archaeological Commission. Inv. no. S-37. Pub.: Smirnov no. 88; Trever and Lukonin no. 31.

Flask with brids in pearl roundels.
6th-8th c. Silver, gilding. H. 16.8 cm.
Middle Iranian inscr.: "213 drachmas. Property of Ramanbacht." or "34 staters 2 or 3 drachmas. Property of Narimandatak."
Found 1900 vill. of Koshelevo, Perm prov. with a Central Asian cup of 8th c. Acq. 1901 from Archaeological Commission. Inv. no. S-38.
Pub.: Smirnov no. 87; Trever and Lukonin no. 32.




Lobed dish decorated with ibex and Tree of Life.
6th-1st half 7th c. Silver, gilding. L. 22.9 cm.
Found 1815 or 1823 vill. of Khomiakovo, Ostrozhskii u., Volynia prov. Ex-Khanenko coll.; then Kievan State Museum. Acq. 1940; Inv. no. S-285.
Pub.: Smirnov no. 76; Trever & Lukonin, no. 33.

Lobed dish depicting dancers.
7th-8th c. Silver, gilding. L. 28.9 cm.
Found 1780 vill. of Sludka, Perm prov., with Byzantine and a 12th century Central Asian dish. Ex-Stroganov coll. Acq. 1925. Inv. S-249.
Pub.: Smirnov no. 78; Trever and Lukonin no. 34; Scythian 1969, no. 87.
Lobed dish with fish.
6th-7th c. Silver. L. 18.2 cm.
Found 1893 Kulagysh, Perm prov. Inv. no. S-34.
Pub.: Smirnov no. 75; Trever and Lukonin no. 35.


Dish with flautist on a fabulous beast.
1st half 7th c. Silver. Dia. 22.2 cm.
Middle Persian inscr.
Found 1893 Tomyz, Viatka prov. with other dishes. Acq. 1894 from Archaeological Commission; Inv. no. S-26.
Pub.: Smirnov no. 48; Trever and Lukonin no. 36.
Dish with two rams flanking a tree.
7th c. Silver, gilding. Dia. 17.6 cm.
Found 1872 vill. of Vereino, Perm prov.; then Stroganov coll. SPb. with dish now in Metropolitan Mus. in NY depicting Shapur II (?=Sasanian 1967, no. 2, pp. 90, 93). Acq. 1925; Inv. no. S-7.
Smirnov no. 95; Trever and Lukonin no. 37.
Dish with lioness and cubs near tree and stream
7th-8th c. Silver, gilding. Dia. 20.5 cm.
Found 1892 vill. of Onoshat, Okhanskii u., Perm prov. Acq. from Archaeological Commission 1894; Inv. no. S-22.
Pub.: Smirnov no. 105; Trever and Lukonin no. 39; Darkevich no. 28, pl. 4/1, pp. 20-21; Scythian 1969, no. 94.
Dish with lion and bull.
7th-8th c. Silver, gilding. Dia. 21.8 cm.
Found 1903 vill. of Komarovo, Kungurskii u., Perm prov. Acq. 1905 from Archaeological Commission; Inv. no. S-40.
Pub.: Smirnov no. 289; Trever and Lukonin no. 40; Darkevich no. 24, pl. 4/2, pp. 18-19.
Dish with eagle and prey.
7th-8th c. Silver. Dia. 21.1 cm.
Found 1878 Mal'tsevo, Solikamskii u., Perm prov. with other Iranian and Byzantine silver. Purch. for S. G. Stroganov; acquired 1925.
Pub.: Smirnov no. 162; Trever and Lukonin, no. 43; Darkevich no. 36, pl. 4/3, pp. 24-25.
Figure of dancer.
7th c. H. Silver. 5.7 cm.
Found prior to 1728 in Siberia; Inv. S-286.
Pub.: Smirnov fig. 3; Trever and Lukonin no. 44, p. 119.
Pail.
6th-7th c. Silver. H. 18 cm., dia., 27 cm.
Found 1907 vill. Klimovo, Kudymkarskii r-on., Perm prov. with other Byzantine and Sasanian objects. Inv. no. S-45.
Pub.: Smirnov no. 312; Darkevich no. 33, fig. 12/4, p. 23 (2nd half 8th-1st half 9th c., E. Central Asia.). Trever amd Lukonin no. 45. Marshak T50 (stage 12). (Similar to Trever and Lukonin no. 46; Darkevich no. 9, and identical to no. 38.)
Ewer with flautist and monster.
8th-9th c. Bronze. H. 43 cm.
From Dagestan. Inv. no. Ks 5725.
Pub.: Trever & Lukonin no. 50.