Silver plate of a lion hunt
- Audio guide stop: 422
- Gallery: Room 52
- Culture: Early Sasanian
- Date: 4thC
- Object type: plate
- Materials: silver; gold
- Museum number: 124091
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
Listen to the free audio guide
About this object
This is a gilded silver plate from the Early Sasanian period, showing a king engaged in a dramatic hunt. At the center, a crowned ruler is seen riding a galloping fallow deer, gripping it by the antlers while thrusting a sword into its neck. The king’s flowing robes, decorative shoulder-pads, and ribboned crown reflect the grandeur of royal Sasanian attire.
The artist used hammering and soldering to create intricate details—like the deer’s textured fur and the king’s scabbard-like quiver—before highlighting key elements in gold. The scene is set within a circular medallion, bordered by concentric lines, adding a refined frame to this dynamic tableau.
While the royal figure is likely Shapur I, artistic details suggest a 4th-century creation, blending Sasanian tradition with royal propaganda. Crafted from pure silver and shaped with care, this plate stands as an early example of the rich iconography used to glorify Sasanian kingship.
See it in person
Silver plate of a lion hunt is on display in Room 52 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and type its audio guide stop number, 422, from the gallery label, or take a photo of it, to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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