A WESTERN ASIATIC RAM-FORM GOLD RHYTON, CIRCA 5TH - 10TH CENTURY AD Terminating in the form of a bearded ram with elegantly curved horns, small ears, almond-shaped eyes with round pupils, and a ruyi design to the forehead, its legs tucked neatly under the body, the fluted horn with a band of ruyi heads below the waisted mouth.

Provenance: The collection of The Zelnik Istvan Southeast Asian Gold Museum. Institutional art collection in Belgium, acquired from the above. Dr. Istvan Zelnik, President of the Hungarian South and Southeast Asian Research Institute, is a former high-ranking Hungarian diplomat who spent several decades in Southeast Asia, building the largest known private collection of Asian art in Europe.
Condition: Very good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, dents, nicks, scratches, encrustations.
Scientific Analysis Report: An Expert Report from Antiques Analytics - Institute of Scientific Authenticity Testing, test report number AA 22-10023, dated 29 April 2022, written and signed by Dr. R. Neunteufel, analyzing the metal after examination by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and element analysis with attached energy-dispersed X-ray micro element analyzer (EDX), finds that the material consists of the following main constituents: Gold 67 %, Silver 32 %, Copper 0.32 %, and Platinum 0.56 %, a composition that is noted to point to “the presence of electrum”. The report concludes that the “composition of the metal is consistent with an ancient source of the gold”. A copy of this report accompanies this lot.

Weight: 123.3 g
Dimensions: Height 15.5 cm

Expert's note: Elaborate bowls, animal-headed drinking vessels, libation cups and rhytons were highly valued in ancient Eastern societies. During the pre-Achaemenid, Achaemenid, and Parthian periods, examples made of silver, gold, and clay were used throughout a vast area extending from both the east and west of Persia. 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, continuing to be made during the Hellenistic period and thereafter. The present lot, however, with its distinct ruyi symbols, exhibits a decidedly Chinese influence, and most likely was made somewhere in the Western Asiatic steppes between the Eastern frontiers of the old Achaemenid Empire and the Western borders of present-day China.

Literature comparison:
Compare a related earlier Achaemenid parcel-gilt silver rhyton in the British Museum, museum number 124081, and a related earlier Achaemenid gold vessel in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 54.3.3. Compare a related earlier Seleucid or Parthian parcel-gilt silver bull rhyton, dated to the Hellenistic period, circa 2^nd century BC, at Christie's New York, 13 October 2020, lot 56. Compare a related parcel-gilt spouted vessel with gazelle protome, dated to the Sasanian period, 4^th century, in the collection of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery in the National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institute, accession number S1987.33.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Bonhams London, 7 December 2021, lot 65
Price: GBP 25,250 or approx. EUR 31,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An Achaemenid bronze animal-headed rhyton, circa 5^th century BC
Expert remark: Compare the bearded ram terminal and fluted horn. Note that the lot is of an earlier date and from the Achaemenid Empire. Note the size (27 cm).



公元五至十世紀西亞臥羊狀金杯
酒杯一端為臥羊狀，帶鬚，犄角彎曲，小耳，大眼圓睜，額頭有如意紋，雙腿置於身下。羊身另一端連接著酒杯，往上呈錐形，杯沿有一圈如意紋。

來源：原匈牙利布達佩斯István Zelnik博士 Southeast Asian Gold Museum收藏。István Zelnik博士是匈牙利South and Southeast Asian Research Institute東南亞研究所主席，曾是匈牙利高級外交官，他在東南亞工作了幾十年，建立了歐洲最大的亞洲藝術品私人收藏。
品相: 狀況良好，與年齡相稱。大面積磨損、凹痕、刻痕、劃痕、結殼。
科學檢測報告: 2022年4月29日Institute of Scientific Authenticity Testing研究所出具的AA22-10023號古玩專業鑒定報告，Dr. R. Neunteufel博士簽名，通過電子顯微鏡（SEM）掃描和附加的能量分散X射線微量元素分析儀（EDX）對金屬進行分析後，發現該材料由以下主要成分組成：金67％，銀32％，銅 0.32 % 和鉑 0.56 %，這種成分指出“the presence of electrum” （“存在金銀合金”）。 報告的結論是“composition of the metal is consistent with an ancient source of the gold” （“金屬的成分與黃金的年代來源一致”）。 隨附一份該報告的副本。

重量: 123.3 克
尺寸: 高 15.5 厘米

專家注釋：此類動物狀的酒器和祭杯在古代東方社會受到特別重視。在前阿契美尼德、阿契美尼德和帕提亞時期，從波斯東部和西部延伸的廣闊地區都使用了由銀、金和粘土製成的樣品。這些器皿上的動物包括公羊、馬、公牛、山羊、超自然生物和女性神靈； 有的刻有皇家款識。 由珍貴材料製成的紀念杯可能是皇家宮廷使用的奢侈品。紀念杯和獸頭船都被希臘看作具有異國情調的東方產品，一直有著廣泛製造。然而，本拍品以其獨特的如意符號，顯示出明顯的中國文化元素，並且很可能是在舊阿契美尼德帝國東部邊境和當今中國西部邊境之間的西亞草原某處製作的。

文獻比較:
Compare a 比較一件相近的阿契美尼德早期鎏金銀杯，收藏於大英博物館，博物館編號124081。一見相近的阿契美尼德早期金杯，收藏於大都會藝術博物館，編號54.3.3。Compare a 比較一件相近的約西元前二世紀希臘化時期早期塞琉古或帕提亞鎏金銀牛杯，售於紐約佳士得，2020年10月13日，lot 56。Compare a 比較一件相近的西元四世紀薩珊王朝時期鎏金羚羊杯，收藏於史密森學會國家藝術博物館Arthur M. Sackler展館，編號S1987.33。

拍賣結果比較:
形制：相近
拍賣：倫敦邦瀚斯，2021年12月7日，lot 65
價格：GBP 25,250（相當於今日EUR 31,500）
描述：約西元前五世紀阿契美尼德時期獸頭青銅杯
專家評論：比較山羊帶鬚，犄角彎曲。請注意此杯年代較早，且來自阿契美尼德帝國。請注意尺寸 (27 厘米)。