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How did Sasanian metalworkers create high-relief scenes on silver vessels?
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metalwork
Warrior and attendants plaque, brass relief sculpture by Edo artists in the court of the kingdom of Benin (now Nigeria), 16th–17th century; in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.
During the Sasanian period (224–651 ce), metalworkers achieved a high level of technical sophistication in the creation of silver vessels, such as platters, bowls, and ewers, which frequently featured hunting and drinking scenes in high relief.1
To achieve these prominent decorative effects, craftsmen employed two primary methods:
- Cutting: Patterns were cut directly out of solid silver.1
- Applied Relief: Designs were made separately in sheets of metal and subsequently soldered onto the surface of the vessel.1
These techniques allowed Sasanian artisans to produce the intricate, varied ornamentation that characterizes the zenith of old Iranian metalwork.1