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20

Silver Pitcher with Foliage and Bird Decoration, Tang Dynasty

Currency:EUR Category:Collectibles Start Price:15,000.00 EUR Estimated At:24,000.00 - 30,000.00 EUR
Silver Pitcher with Foliage and Bird Decoration, Tang Dynasty
Silver
China, Tang Dynasty (618-907)
Bulbous pot with finely worked repoussé relief
Wall with revolving decoration of birds amidst foliage on a punched ground
Neck and cover further foliate borders, partly with stylized birds
Foot with triple lotus flower border
Elegantly curved handle with ornamental decoration of quatrefoil elements
Lid mounted to the handle with a small chain that is held by an ornate turtle
Height: 13 cm
Weight: approx. 220 g
Provenance: Private collection M.E., USA
Michael Fiorello, Philadelphia, USA

This silver teapot is a masterpiece of silversmithing from the Tang era. The motif of the bird amidst lush foliage is a characteristic motif of Tang Dynasty metalwork. A plate with a similar bird decoration in the well is held in the Freer Sackler collection in The Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C. (inv. no. F1930.42a-b).

The unusual turtle-shaped rivet is also found on a pitcher, which was discovered in the legendary Famen Temple near Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. Compare the exhibition ‘Secrets of the Fallen Pagoda: Treasures from Famen Temple and the Tang Court’ in the Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore in 2014. (See exhibition catalogue Eugene Y.Wang, Sen Tansen et al, Secrets of the Fallen Pagoda: The Famen Temple and Tang Court Culture, Singapore 2014).



Condition: The pitcher is in good condition with light signs of age. The interior shows some wear. The height measures 13 cm and the weight is approx. 220 g.

Provenance: Private collection M.E., USA

Michael Fiorello, Philadelphia, USA
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