A WESTERN ASIATIC ‘PROCESSION OF TRIBUTE BEARERS’ CHLORITE VESSEL, 1st MILLENNIUM BC With a slightly domed base and tapering sides rising to a lipped rim, the exterior finely carved in relief with several bearded figures, dressed in voluminous robes with varied headdresses, all above a band of flowers carved in typical style. Provenance: The collection of The Zelnik István Southeast Asian Gold Museum. Institutional art collection in Belgium, acquired from the above. Dr. István Zelnik, President of the Hungarian South and Southeast Asian Research Institute, is a former high-ranking Hungarian diplomat who spent several decades in Southeast Asia, building the largest known private collection of Asian art in Europe. Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. Scratches, nicks, losses—especially around the rim, cracks, erosion, and encrustations. The base with repairs and fills. The vessel slightly tilted. Weight: 3,847 g Dimensions: Height 16.2 cm The vessel is decorated with relief carvings depicting the annual procession of tribute bearers at the New Year’s festival during which representatives from the empire’s subject nations congregated to pay tribute to the king. The identity of each figure is indicated through his costume, appearance, and also through the gift that he bears—a product of his native land. In addition to these foreign dignitaries, the procession includes courtiers, servants, soldiers, and guards. These carvings record a ritual of submission which served both as a reminder of their relationship to the Persian king and a model of ideal behavior. Literature comparison: Compare a related relief carving of the Tribute Procession from the Apadana at Persepolis, Iran, with a similar foliate band, photographed by the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures, reference number P. 28996. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s London, 30 April 2008, lot 24 Price: GBP 11,250 or approx. EUR 24,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A large western Asiatic bronze bowl, circa 8th-6th century BC Expert remark: Compare the related modelling of the frieze showing two hunters.