Lidded container with birds and floral scrolls

Surface: gilded; areas of black oxidation; inside surface darkened.
Decoration: in delicate line engraving, covering all outer surfaces.

Historical period(s)
Mid-Tang dynasty, early 8th century
Medium
Cast, hammered, and turned silver with chased and ring-punched decoration and mercury gilding
Dimensions
H x W: 12.3 x 7.1 cm (4 13/16 x 2 13/16 in)
Geography
China, Shaanxi province, Probably Xi’an
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1931.17a-b
On View Location
Freer Gallery 16: Center of the World: China and the Silk Road
Classification(s)
Metalwork, Vessel
Type

Cup

Keywords
China, Tang dynasty (618 - 907)
Provenance

To 1931
Herbert J. Devine, New York to 1931 [1]

From 1931
Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Herbert J. Devine, New York in 1931 [2]

Notes:

[1] Object file, undated folder sheet note.

[2] See note 1. Also see Freer Gallery of Art Purchase List file, Collections Management Office.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Herbert J. Devine Galleries

Description

Surface: gilded; areas of black oxidation; inside surface darkened.
Decoration: in delicate line engraving, covering all outer surfaces.

Published References
  • Bo Gyllensvard, The Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities. T'ang Gold and Silver. no. 29 Stockholm. cat. 292, pl. 10d.
  • Margaret Medley. Pottery and Metalwork in T'ang China: Their Chronology and External Relations. Colloquies on art and archaeology in Asia, no. 1 London, June 29 - July 2, 1970. pp. 20-21.
  • Paths to Perfection, Buddhist Art at the Freer/Sackler. Washington. pp. 118-119.
  • Richard Ettinghausen. The "Wade Cup" in the Cleveland Museum of Art: Its Origin and Decorations. vol. 2 Washington and Ann Arbor. pp. 327-366, pl. 3, fig. 11.
  • Islamic Art and Archaeology: Collected Papers. Berlin. p. 373.
Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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