Rhyton terminating in the forepart of a wild cat

Item

Title
Rhyton terminating in the forepart of a wild cat
Description
Elaborate bowls, animal-headed drinking vessels, and rhytons—vessels which have a hole at the front from which liquid flows—were highly valued in ancient Near Eastern society. During the pre-Achaemenid, Achaemenid, and Parthian periods, examples made of silver, gold, and clay were used throughout a vast area extending both to the east and west of Iran. The animals on these vessels included the ram, horse, bull, ibex, supernatural creatures, and female divinities; some were engraved with royal inscriptions. Rhytons made of precious materials were probably luxury wares used at royal courts. Both the rhyton and the animal-headed vessel were adopted by the Greek world as exotic and prestigious Oriental products.
Creator
Parthian
Date Created
earliest: 100 BCE
latest: 1 BCE
Date
1979
Provenance
Acquired by the Museum in 1979, purchased from Manouchehr Malekzadehmokri, Isak Antiques, New York.
Identifier
1979.447a, b
Medium
Silver
Mercury gilding
Format
11 3/16 × 5 3/16 × 11 7/8 in. (28.4 × 13.1 × 30.2 cm)
Publisher
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Source
Purchase, Rogers Fund; Enid A. Haupt, Mrs. Donald M. Oenslager, Mrs. Muriel Palitz and Geert C. E. Prins Gifts; Pauline V. Fullerton Bequest; and Bequests of Mary Cushing Fosburgh, Edward C. Moore and Stephen Whitney Phoenix, by exchange, 1979
Rights
https://www.metmuseum.org/about-the-met/policies-and-documents/open-access
Contributor
Purchase, Rogers Fund; Enid A. Haupt, Mrs. Donald M. Oenslager, Mrs. Muriel Palitz and Geert C. E. Prins Gifts; Pauline V. Fullerton Bequest; and Bequests of Mary Cushing Fosburgh, Edward C. Moore and Stephen Whitney Phoenix, by exchange, 1979
Subject
Ancient Near Eastern Art
drinking vessels
gilding (technique)
Mercury
metalworking
rhyta
head-vases
Silver
Vessels
Asia
Iran
Parthian
Item sets
Drinking Vessels
Media
DT905.jpg