Dish With A "solar Lion", Persia, 19th Century, Diameter 45 Cm, Repoussé Work, Collection

Large hollow dish, 45 cm in diameter, from the 19th century.
Originating from ancient Persia, Iran, with abundant decoration of elegant repoussé work.
We find in the border the emblem of Persia the "solar lion" armed with his saber as well as great bustards birds very present in the great Iranian plains;
In the center a sheep surmounted by a bird carrying in its beak a branch.
Around this scene, a frieze of many animals.
On the outside a large frieze in calligraphy finishes this dish with a rich decoration.
Superb patina for the whole object.
## The solar lion is the emblem of royal Persia and the central motif of the flag of Iran from 1576 to 1579.
The motif dates back to the pre-Islamic era.
The religion of Iran at that time (Zoroastrianism) considered fire as a sacred element and the sun was also venerated.
The motif represents the sun in the astrological sign of the lion.
A saber was added in the right foreleg of the lion in the 16th century, Here it is a symbol, recalling the justice or the warrior power of the Shahanshah.
The motif appears in Islamic art towards the end of the 12th century, it is attested on the coins struck by Kay KHUSHRAW II, the Seljuk sultan of Roum in Anatolia.
A miniature from 1423 shows it used as a flag emblem of Timurid (therefore Mongol) horsemen approaching the walls of Nishapur in Iranian Khorassan.
A heraldic sign among many others at the beginning, the solar lion had become the symbol of Persia at the time of the reign of Abbas the Great.
Height: 8 cm   -----     diameter: 45 cm
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