Silver

Items crafted from silver, a metal valued for its luster and malleability. This category includes jewelry, vessels, and decorative works showcasing silver’s elegance in craftsmanship.

Arm Reliquary of the Apostles medieval Christian reliquary, c. 1190

Arm Reliquary of the Apostles (c. 1190 CE)

Antiquities Ceremonial & Religious Europe Germany

Shaped like a clothed human forearm with an outstretched right hand in a gesture of blessing, this reliquary was designed to house a sacred relic—in this case, a portion of an unidentified saint’s arm bone.

Bidri basin from Bidar, India, c. 1650 CE

Bidri Basin (c. 1650 CE)

Antiquities Asia Ceremonial & Religious India

The Bidri Basin, dating to around 1650 from Bidar in Karnataka, southwestern India, stands as a magnificent example of Bidriware, a renowned and distinctive metalcraft tradition from the Deccan region.

Portrait of Phagmo Drupa Dorje Gyalpo (1200s CE)

Antiquities Asia Ceremonial & Religious Tibet

Although modest in size, the sculpture of Phagmo Drupa immediately commands attention through its rich materials, intricate inlay, and the serene, authoritative presence of the lama, who is depicted in a Buddha-like posture that underscores his spiritual attainment.

Roman silver drinking cup known as The Vicarello Goblet

The Vicarello Goblet (25 BCE – 25 CE)

Antiquities Europe Household Items Rome

This small silver Vicarello drinking cup, discovered near ancient thermal springs north of Rome, features a finely detailed relief scene depicting a rustic ritual in honor of Priapus, the Roman god of fertility, gardens, and male sexuality.

The Wade Cup (1200–1221 CE)

Antiquities Asia Household Items Iran

This Wade cup, a bowl-shaped drinking vessel, created in Iran during the early 13th century, features a dramatic animated inscription around the rim where Arabic letters are formed by lively full-figure human beings, animals, and birds.

Sasanian silver-gilt dish with royal lion hunt, 400s–500s CE.

Dish With King Hormizd II (400s-500s CE)

Antiquities Household Items Iran Middle East

This 5th–6th century CE Sasanian silver-gilt dish, depicting a royal lion hunt possibly of King Hormizd II, showcases intricate metalwork and symbolizes kingship and divine order.