This large silver and gold Sasanian dish depicts a royal hunting scene and dates from 200 to 500 AD. One of the greatest Persian dynasties, the Sasanian Empire lasted from the 3rd to the 7th century AD and stretched at its peak from Anatolia to the Indus Valley. Their rulers assumed the title ‘shahanshah’, or 'king of kings’, and the monarchy asserted power by divine right. The Sasanians became renowned for their gold work and silver vessels which were often exported and exchanged as diplomatic gifts, making known outside the empire the splendour of the Sasanian sovereign, and his society’s taste for magnificence and luxury.
This dish from The Al Thani Collection has a remarkable weight of 1.011 kg and measures 25.4 cm in diameter.
It is a highlight of the exhibition 'Man, God and Nature in the Ancient World: Masterpieces from The Al Thani Collection' at the Tokyo National Museum from 6 November 2019 to 9 February 2020.