Western Asiatic Sassanian 'Devil's Skin' Gilt Silver Bowl with Lion

6th-7th century AD
A sheet silver boat-shaped bowl, elliptical in plan with rounded underside, thickened rim; hammered texture, to the centre a profile advancing lion with pointillé fur detailing, herringbone border. 262 grams, 20.5cm (8"). Very fine condition.
Provenance
Property of a London gentleman; acquired London art market, 1970-1980; accompanied by a metallurgic analytical report, written by Metallurgist Dr. Brian Gilmour of the Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, University of Oxford, report number 134652.
Literature
See Harper, P.O. & Meyers, P. Silver Vessels of the Sasanian Period, New York, 1981 for discussion; Muscarella, O.W. Bronze and Iron. Ancient Near Eastern Artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1988, item 428 for type; also Godard, A. The Art of Iran, London, 1965, p.214-215, ill.120 and 121, for a bottle with repoussé decoration now in the National Museum, Tehran, depicting a similar mythical animal at the base.