PARTHIAN SILVER VOTIVE PLAQUE FROM THE KUH DASHT HOARD

First century BC. The so-called Dark Ages of Parthia. Parthia, northeastern Persia, survived for centuries against the Roman and nomadic attacks. The Kuh Dasht Hoard was discovered in 1970 and contained about 700 silver coins and other objects including these votive plaques. As the coins were commercial only, the plaques, each of which is hand embossed with a stylus depicting a spiritual subject. They were purchased at auction in England in the 1980s and are among the very few examples in private hands. This example is silver, 3/8” x 7/8” very well executed with high relief figure of a woman with wide hips, graphic naval and well detailed face and hair. Unmistakably a fertility figure. Plexiglas museum mounted with certificate of authenticity and provenance.