A mid-20^th century Iranian (Persian) silver christening set, Isfahan circa 1950, the beaker with mark of Rasool Parvaresh

Pahlavi dynasty, comprising a beaker napkin ring, spoon, fork, and knife (weighted handles). The beaker of tapering cylindrical form with engraved ghalam zani decoration with shaped arabesque cartouches reserved with strap work, flower heads and ring punching, interspaced with peony vignettes flanked by birds’ heads, all below a rosette band and corded rim. The napkin ring with similar peony arabesques, the spoon with a nightingale among flower heads (gul-o-bolbol). The fork and knife with silver blades/ prongs, the fork handle with engraved ghalam zani arabesques and flowers heads, the knife handle with stylised leaves. The beaker marked underneath standard mark (۸۴), and workshop mark رسول پرورش , the spoon with standard mark (۸۴), and obscured workshop mark, the other elements unmarked. (5)

Beaker height – 5.9 cm / 2.4 inches

Weighable silver – 141 grams / 4.53 ozt

Presented as a gift to the vendor in 1950