Achaemenid Silver Cup for Ampirish, King of Samati

6th-4th century BC. A silver poppy-head vessel with carinated shoulder and flared rim; parcel-gilt D-shaped petals to the shoulder above a gilt band, parcel-gilt leaf and acanthus motifs above a row of roundels between gilt bands, gilt cinquefoil to the base; line of impressed cuneiform text the inner rim naming Ampirish, King of Samati, son of Dabala; accompanied by an old scholarly note, typed and signed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Ancient Iranian Silver Vessel, 17.5 cm high. On the bottom of this vessel in the centre there is a hemispherical depression, and around [th]is emerge and run up the sides of the vessel 11 petal-like shapes, and toward the top of these petals there a 11 dimples, roughly oval with pointed bases. Then, finally, between the tops of the petals are 11 much smaller dimples of the same shape. At this point the sides of the vessel curve sharply inwards to the short neck, from which the rim flares outwards. On inside of this rim is engraved a single-line inscription in Neo-Elamite cuneiform: mam-pi-ri-iš sunki sa-ma-tur-ra šak da-ba-la-na Ampirish, king of Samati, son of Dabala.This king is not so far known to history books, but to judge from the art of the piece and the shapes of the signs, he lived c. 800-600 B.C. in that period. The name Ampirish is otherwise unknown, as is Dabara, though it is a variant form of Dabala, which occurs in other silver inscriptions of this type. It is possible that the king was a Median king, which would explain why so far he is unknown. Samaturra is also previously unknown, and since there is no of written with it, it might be an epithet such as great. Whatever the final solution to these questions, there is no dispute that this is a large, well preserved and important antiquity.' 1.3 kg total, 16.5cm (6 1/2"). Property of a central London gentleman; acquired on the UK art market in 1993; examined by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert FBA (1926-2011), historian, archaeologist, and specialist in Assyriology and Near Eastern archaeology, in 1993; previously in a private collection, since 1963; accompanied by a copy of Professor Lambert’s typed, signed and dated notes and a positive metallurgic analytical results, written by Metallurgist Dr. Peter Northover (ex Department of Materials, Materials Science-Based Archaeology Group & Department of Materials, University of Oxford), number A97-98 this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no.163509-10075.
Condition Report: Fine condition.