This figure is cast in silver and consists of two parts, depicting a noble king and his horse—perhaps Shapur II (AD 310–379). The bearded king wears a suit of armor and a distinctive crown, adorned with a striated orb atop a crescent. In his right hand, he holds the reins of his majestic, caparisoned horse, which is elegantly posed with its right foreleg lifted. (2)

Expert’s note:
The elevated manganese content in the silver suggests that this piece was cast after an ancient prototype in the 19th century. However, the presence of soil encrustations—found only in less visible areas, such as beneath the figure and on the saddle—could indicate a much earlier date. While high manganese levels can occur if the silver was sourced from a manganese-rich deposit, even in antiquity, this remains highly atypical, though not entirely ruling out an earlier origin.
The quality of the workmanship is exceptionally high, another factor that may suggest an earlier date. The Sasanian and Achaemenid dynasties ruled the region from the Euphrates to Bactria from the 3rd century AD until the Islamic conquest in the 7th century, controlling much of the Silk Road during this period.
The true age and origin of this piece remain subjects of academic research, as little is known about this early period of Iranian history.

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 with old wear, tarnishing, scratches, small losses, castuing flaws such as pitting, and remnants of soil encrustations to the underside of the king figure and the back of the horse.
Alloy composition range: 77.31% Silver, 16.99% Copper, 3.44% Manganese, 2.25% Zinc.

Weight: 726 g
Dimension: Height 15.5 cm

The king resembles portrayals associated with Shapur II, also known as Shapur the Great, who was the longest-reigning Sasanian King of Kings, ruling Iran from 309 to 379. His reign marked a military resurgence and territorial expansion, ushering in the first Sasanian golden era. He enforced strict religious policies, completing the Avesta’s collection, punishing heresy, and persecuting Christians in response to Rome’s Christianization. However, he maintained favorable policies toward Jews, granting them relative freedom and privileges.

Literature comparison:
Compare a related Head of a Sasanian King from the 4^th century, in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Object Number: 65.126. Compare a silver coin with a Bust of Shapur II from the 309-379, in the collection of the British Museum, London, object number: MAR.516.