An early 20^th century Iranian (Persian) silver teapot, Kermanshah circa 1910

Late Qajar dynasty, of squat tapering cylindrical form with a chamfered base and collet foot, the short scroll spout opposite a wooden C scroll handle pinned to tubular sockets. The circular pull-off lid surmounted by a cast vegetal finial. The body with deep chased monabbat-kari decoration of rectangular vignettes of Sassanian / Assyrian stone relief style figures, including a seated King Khosrow II with emissaries either side, the other side with the relief from Naqsh-i Rustam of the investiture of Ardashir I on horseback trampling the Parthian King Ardavan, who receives the ring of office from Ahura Mazda the supreme Zoroastrian god on horseback. The handle section with a scene of the King Darius in combat with Ahriman, the chamfered underside with a continuous deep chased monabbat-kari frieze of pigs. Unmarked.

Length – 19 cm / 7.5 inches

Weight – 415 grams / 13.34 ozt

The scene depicting of the investiture of Ardashir I on horseback, would normally have Ahura Mazda trampling Zoroastrian evil spirit Ahriman, the version here with only King Ardavan depicted is likely derived from the engravings by Andrea Bernieri from Giulio Ferrario’s Costumes Ancient and Modern of the Peoples of the World, Il Costume Antico e Moderno, Florence, 1847.