Page 48 - 2020 September 21 Elegant Embellishment the RenLu Colelction, Bonham NYC

Property of Various Owners

351
A SMALL SILVER ‘LOTUS’ BOWL
Song/Yuan dynasty
The deep bowl finely formed as a graceful open lotus, its gently sloping
side walls carefully indented and cut out to present eight lotus petals
rising from a circular foot ring, enclosing a skillfully rendered blossom
well fitted in the floor of the bowl and on the base.
1 1/2in (3.8cm) high

US$5,000 - 7,000

宋/元 蓮花小銀碗一件
351
Although no other identical examples of this type have been recorded,
bowls and cups designed in an open flower shape appear to have
been popular during the Song and Yuan dynasties.

Compare a gold bowl cut out in the form of an open chrysanthemum,
published and illustrated in the exhibition catalog Imperial Gold from
Ancient China, Christian Deydier (London, Oriental Bronzes Ltd.,
1990), p. 42, pl. 14. Refer also to a parcel gilt flower-form silver cup,
dated to the Song dynasty and reminiscent of the present example,
illustrated in Ancient Chinese Gold, Han Wei and Chritian Deydier
(Paris, Les Editions D’art et D’histoire, 2001), p. 183, pl. 456.

A more elaborate silver cup in the form of a lotus flower is known in the
Zhejiang Museum Collection in Jiangsu province. In addition, floriform
is an important design motif that often appears on ceramics from both
the Song and Yuan dynasties.

351 (detail)

46 | BONHAMS