1. Gilt Silver Bowl and Cover
Tang dynasty, late 8th - early 9th century
Diameter of bowl: 24.3cm
Diameter of cover: 24.9cm
Weight: 1246g
Parcel-gilt silver bowl with everted five-lobed rim, standing on a flared foot-ring, its perfectly-fitting lipped, stepped, domed cover set with a replacement ring that also acts as a foot when lifted, turned over and set down. The bowl has five repoussé vertical ribs – repeated on foot-ring, cover- ring and lip – framing five different fruit and flower compositions that are chased, both on the interior and exterior. These comprise an easily identifiable lotus plant, the characteristic leaf portrayed in three dimensions by a masterly use of linear design; a flowering pomegranate with the fan-shaped, vine-like leaves; a bloom with cascading petals on a leafy stem; and two compositions showing small, ribbed melon-like fruit springing from petals and leaves. The well is decorated with a scrolling, fruiting and flowering ‘melon’. The rim and foot-ring are each chased with a border of overlapping petals. The designs on the cover echo those found on the bowl, with the addition of an outer register composed of five, elongated flower and leaf scrolls. All the chased areas of the bowl and cover are gilded.
Provenance:
Reportedly discovered at Balin, Eastern Mongolia, in 1930.
Martin Månsson (1880 - 1952), Sweden, by repute, acquired in Stockholm, Sweden, directly from Orvar Karlbeck.
Published:
Orvar Karlbeck, Karlbeck-Konsortiet 1930 – 1931, Del. 1, Stockholm, 1930 - 31, page 27, number 146.
Christie’s, London, Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 10 May 2011, number 187.
Eskenazi Ltd, Tang: ceramics metalwork and sculpture, London, 2021, number 31.
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