Page 659 - Chinese SIlver By Adrien Von Ferscht

In contrast, this covered dish is obviously Chinese in influence but still manages some modernist elements
such as the three stylish feet. The ball finial is also not typical of work from a Chinese silversmith.
This cup is totally schizophrenic,
since it takes its influence from the
cups created during the Tang
Dynasty, also has some traditional
decorative motifs engraved on the
high polished surface yet does so
in a restrained way. But the most
unusual part of this cup is the base
- it is a flat bottomed cup; flat
almost to the point of appearing to
have been sheared off. This is
highly unusual in Chinese silver.

This cup is almost as ground-breaking as abstract
impressionism was to the art world in the 20th century.