Ancient Iranian metalwork in the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and the Freer Gallery of Art

280 Pages·2015·23.58 MB·English

ANCIENT IRANIAN
METALWORK
IN THE ARTHUR M. SACKLER GALLERY
AND THE FREER GALLERY OF ART
Ann C. Gunter and Paul Jett

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ANCIENT IRANIAN
METALWORK
IN THE ARTHUR M. SACKLER GALLERY
AND THE FREER GALLERY OF ART
Ann C. Gunter and Paul Jett
ARTHUR M. SACKl HR GALLERY FREER GALLERY OF ART
•
Smithsonian Institution, Washin2;ton, D.C.
Distributed by
Philipp von Zabern, Mainz, Germany
FREER GALLERYOFART
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Copyright © 1992 by Smithsonian
Institution. All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States ofAmerica.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-
Publication Data
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
(Smithsonian Institution)
Ancient Iranian Metalvvork in the Arthur
M. Sackler Gallery and the Freer Gallery
ofArt/Ann C. Gunter and Paul Jett.
cm.
p.
Includes bibliographical references.
—
I. Art metal-work, Ancient —Iran
Catalogs. 2. Art metal-work Iran
Catalogs. 3. Art met—al-work
Washington (D.C.) Catalogs. 4. Arthur
M. Sackler Gallery (Smithsonian Institu-
—
tion—) Catalogs. 5. Freer Gallery of
Art Catalogs, i. Gunter, Ann Clyburn,
195I—. II. Jett, Paul. HI. Freer Gallery of
Art. IV. Title. NK6474.A1A78 1992
739'-0935-dc2o 92-32999
CIP
Cover: Details ofbowl [25] and shallow
bowl or boss [23]
Frontispiece: Ewer [35] and vase [34]
Note: Numbers in brackets refer to
[ ]
catalogue entries.
Contents
6 Foreword
Milo C. Beach
8 Preface
o Acknowledgments
I
13 The Collections and Their Classification
Ann C. Gunter
Shapes and Decoration
23
Ann C. Gunter
Colorplates
32
49 Materials and Methods of Manufacture
PaulJen
6 Catalogue
1
Ann C. Gunter and PaulJett
63 Achaemenid Period: Entries 1—4
79 Seleucid and Parthian Periods: Entries 5—12
105 Sasanian Period: Entries ij—42
223 Suspected Eorgeries: Entries 4^^—47
241 Appendix: Analytical Techniques
Concordance
251
252 Glossary
255 References
269 Index
Foreword
OVER A ptRioD ot some seventy years, tollowin^r its opening in 1923, the Freer
Gallery ot Art has acquired a small collection of ancient Iranian metalwork dis-
tinauished lor its quality and interest. In 1982 the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
was established with a gilt ol nearly one thousand works ol Asian art that also
included significant holdings of ancient Iranian metalwork. Between 1986 and
1990, these two collections were studied by Ann C. Gunter and Paul Jett, both
members ot the museums' research statf, in consultation with specialists in
other institutions. The result is the present catalogue, a detailed description and
analysis ot the ancient Iranian metalwork ot Achaemenid through Sasanian date
housed in the two museums. Dr. Gunter, associate curator ot ancient Near
Eastern art, wrote the essays on the collections and the vessel shapes and deco-
ration as well as the descriptions and art-historical discussions ot each object in
the catalogue. Mr. Jett, supervisory conservator, contributed the essay on
materials and methods ot manufacture, the technical discussions ofeach object,
the appendix on analvtical techniques, and the glossary.
The problems ofdating, attribution, and authenticity attending the study of
ancient Iranian metalwork are well known and require little elaboration. The
collaborative approach exemplified in this catalogue, combining connoisseurship
and technical examination, has proven to be an effective research strategy when
applied to ancient Iranian metalwork as well as to other media and cultural
spheres. With respect to the Freer Gallery's own collections, earlier studies of
Chinese bronzes and Islamic metalwork established a precedent ofmultidiscipli-
nary investigation and publication, which the present catalogue follows.
A new direction for both museums lies in the joint study and publication
of their collections. The unique circumstances of the museums' proximity and
combined staff furnish an opportunity to examine and compare two closely
—
related and highly complementary collections that although in adjoining
—
museums cannot be exhibited together. The advantages of analyzing such
collections through the vehicle of a joint publication are many. By enlarging
the scope of the study, the possibilities of gaining new insights through com-
parison and a wider frame of reference are considerably enhanced. This torm
of publication should also enable readers and visitors to appreciate more fully
6