Page 31 - Chiense Silver and Gold, 2012, J.J. Lally, New York

10. A Large P arcel-Gilt Silver Dish
Tang Dynasty, A.D. 8th–9th Century

of shallow circular form with gently rounded flaring sides resting on a wide ring foot, decorated in
very low relief in the center with a floral roundel in the form of a continuous scrolling vine bearing
three blooms alternating with three large leaves encircling a single bloom from the same vine
in the center, all drawn in outline with a strong chased line and picked out in gilding, with finely
incised linear details, the mouth with a raised half-round border around the inner rim also picked
out in gilding, the underside plain, the ring foot made separately and soldered on, with some bright
green patination at the join where the solder has corroded, inscribed on the base with a single
character yong (詠) which may be translated as “to sing praise of,” and with other incised symbols
including a triangle with two lines forming an acute angle at the apex and associated angular and
curved lines clustered near the footrim.
Diameter 9 ⁄2 inches (24.1 cm)
1
Compare the smaller parcel-gilt silver dish of the same shape, with a similar raised half-round border around the inner
rim, decorated with a gilded tiger motif at the center in low relief, excavated from Lijiayingzi, Aohan Banner, Chifeng,
Inner Mongolia and now in the Inner Mongolia Museum, illustrated in Chifeng jinyinqi (Important Archaeological Sites
for Excavated Gold- and Silverware in Chifeng Region), Huhehaote, 2006, p. 34, no. CJ021, described as Tang period but
Sogdian workmanship.
Compare also a smaller Tang parcel-gilt silver dish of lobed form decorated with a similar parcel-gilt floral roundel in the
center, discovered at Qujiangchi, in the southern suburbs of Xi’an, Shaanxi province, now in the Xi’an City Cultural Relics
Management Authority, illustrated in Zhongguo wenwu jinghua dacidian: jin yin yushi juan (The Compendium of Chinese Art:
Gold, Silver, Jade and Stones), Hong Kong, 1994, p. 110, no. 71.

唐 鎏金折枝串花紋銀盤 徑 24.1 厘米