Page 73 - March 17, 2020 Impotant Chinese Art, Sotheby's, New York

TANG GOLD AND SILVER: CURRENCY OF

INFLUENCE, RECOGNITION AND TRIBUTE
AT THE COURT

REGINA KRAHL

權位榮華：唐代金銀器

康蕊君

Gold and silver are eternal symbols of wealth and luxury and 金、銀在曆朝歷代均為榮華富貴的代表，而
were coveted in every period, but perhaps never more so 唐代王族權貴對金銀的推崇則無疑更甚。本
than at the court and among the elites of the Tang dynasty 盌銀製，作局部鎏金，金飾厚重，紋飾瑰麗，
(618-907). This silver bowl, with its rich gilding and the
baroque opulence of its decoration, is an archetypal work of 若見巴洛克繁縟藝風，屬大唐經典，絕冠之作。
the period.
金銀器貴重，除用於大唐宮廷宴會等場合外，
Gold and silver vessels were of course used at court, at 其更重要作用在於作為皇室禮贈，用以賞賜
banquets and in many other ways, but possibly even more 政戰功臣、贈予來訪使節，繼而亦成為外邦
important was their utility as gifts. They were ideally suited
as imperial rewards for meritorious officials and as presents 進獻、朝臣上供的理想佳品。如唐玄宗於公
to foreign envoys and, in turn, as tributes to the Emperor 元 751 年曾賞賜當時尚未叛變的安祿山平亂
from foreign courts and as respectful presentations to the 有功，賜其長安大宅，府邸「裝潢無比富麗，
ruler from the officialdom throughout the Empire. General An 備金銀器等」（薛愛華，《撒馬爾罕的金桃》，
Lushan, for example, who prior to his rebellion had been held 伯克利 / 洛杉磯，1963 年，頁 137）。
in high regard by the Emperor Xuanzong (r. 713 – 756), was in
751 lavishly rewarded for a successful military campaign with, 貴重金屬雖在中國本土即有礦場開採，然而
among other things, a fine house in the capital “furnished with
the richest objects, such as gold and silver utensils” (Edward 產量供不應求，故亦有進口。金銀器雖製於
H. Schafer, The Golden Peaches of Samarkand, Berkeley/Los 宮廷，然民間多有能工巧匠，出品品質甚至
Angeles, 1963, p. 137). 可與御品相比，在河南、安徽、江蘇、江西、
浙江及廣西等地均有巧手匠人，既出成品上
Precious metals were mined within China, but local deposits 貢朝廷，亦奉御令專嗣製作。首都長安以及
were insufficient to fulfil the demand, thus they were also
imported. Gold and silver utensils were made in imperial 富庶之地如商務港口江蘇揚州等，均有商鋪
workshops, but often to a similar standard also in many 售賣金銀器。 唐代金銀器分銷廣泛，風格多
private manufactories in various regions. Gold and silver- 元豐富，然傳世者甚罕，想必是貴重金屬器
smiths are recorded to have been active in Henan, Anhui, 常因材料短缺時而遭熔毀所致。
Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Zhejiang and Guangxi, and not only tributes
to the court but even imperial orders could be fulfilled by local 金銀器於唐代之前早已在中國出現，而中西
artisans. Precious metal shops selling gold and silver vessels
operated of course at the capital, Chang’an (Xi’an in Shaanxi), 亞金屬器數百年來因沿絲路的傳入，則為本
and in affluent towns such as Yangzhou in Jiangsu, one of the 土金銀工藝帶來了更多創新與生命力。薩珊
main trading ports. The wide distribution of manufacturing 王朝（224-651 年）的金銀匠人以所製器壁纖
centers of gold and silver wares in the Tang period gave rise to 薄而聞名，其局部鎏金銀器更尤為出眾，金
a wide spectrum of styles. That Tang precious metal vessels 銀交相輝映，令人驚嘆。可以推測，因此類
are nevertheless very rare today, is undoubtedly due to the
fact that many were molten down, at times when the metals 銀器經商路傳入，相應特殊製作工藝風格亦
were scarce.

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