Sasanian bowl depicting the Persian king of kings on a hunt

In Late Antiquity the Sasanian dynasty, a succession of autocratic great kings, ruled over a large empire which, in addition to its core regions inpresent-day Iran and Iraq, included large portions of western Asia. Sasanian art and architecture as well as court ceremonial exercised a lasting influence on early Islamic court culture with its love of ostentation. For this reason, the museum has always been eager to add Sasanian art to its collection. Among the showpieces of Sasanian art are partially gilt silver vessels, luxury wares created for the court and the aristocracy.