Comparative Study of Metal Rhytons of the Achaemenid Period and the Engraving Works of Metalworking Artist Mahmoud Dehnavi

Metalworking artist Mahmoud Dehnavi is one of the famous metalworking artist in the field of contemporary Iranian engraving, whose works are kept in museums and private collections. Rhytons are one of the most important works of this artist, which have been designed and made inspired by the art of the Achaemenid period. Metal Rhytons with animal heads are important Applied and ritual works of the Achaemenid period and they have a lot of religious, ritual and artistic importance. Therefore, the importance of Rhytons and the source of inspiration for these works by Mahmoud Dehnavi, necessitates the present research and in this research, have been identified the properties of Achaemenid Rhytons and engraved Rhytons of Mahmoud Dehnavi and the similarities and differences of these works. Also, the questions raised in the present study include two cases: 1- What are the properties of Achaemenid Rhytons and engraving Rhytons of Metalworking artist Mahmoud Dehnavi? 2- What are the similarities and differences between the Achaemenid Rhytons and engraving Rhytons of Metalworking artist Mahmoud Dehnavi? In the present study, documentary information have been studied by descriptive-analytical method and comparative approach and case studies include 5 works of engraved Rhytons by Mahmoud Dehnavi, which includes a Rhyton with a horse's head and 4 Rhytons with a goat's head and these examples have been compared with two examples of Rhyton works with horses and goats head of Achaemenid period that are most similar to each other. The research findings also show that among the 4 engraved Rhytons of Master Dehnavi with a goat's head, 2 samples are most similar to the Achaemenid Rhyton and these are designed and made in a conical and elongated shape and the other two examples of Dehnavi's Rhytons are designed to be slightly rounder and more cylindrical. In the case of horse-shaped Rhytons, the Achaemenid sample is made with more elegance and more natural than the work of Master Dehnavi.