An early 20^th century Iranian (Persian) silver tray, Shiraz dated 1906

Qajar dynasty, of circular form with ovolo edge and turned over rim, the field centre with an engraved ghalam zani hexa-lobed cartouche with figures depicting King Darius seated with his fan bearer behind to the upper section, the centre with Ahura Mazda the supreme Zoroastrian god with tributaries surrounding him, the lobes of the cartouche with foliate leaves. Edged with a trailing border of leaf clusters and vines above lunettes, heightened with ring punched decoration. The ovolo edge with repousse monabbat-kari figures in the Zoroastrian tradition, against a textured ground. The reverse engraved with “winter 1324” in Farsi.

Diameter – 29 cm / 11.4 inches

Weight – 567 grams / 18.23 ozt

The gift of Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi (1919-1980), thence by descent