TIBET, CIRCA 6TH/7TH CENTURY

Reputedly found in Tibet, this unusual bowl combines various stylistic and technical aspects. While the scalloped petal frieze evolves out of Roman and Central Asian prototypes, the dragon medallion is a distinctly Chinese element. However, the 'flaming jewel' motif at the back of the dragon's head is a unique feature, as depictions of Chinese dragons generally incorporate a mushroom-shaped extension at the top of the head. The 'flaming jewel' as a distinctly Tibetan motif indicates its dating to the Early Kingdoms period in Tibet around the 6th-8th century. In fact, during that time a small group of remarkably high quality silver vessels were produced in Tibet, either by local or foreign craftsmen in a unique blend of styles, and others possibly imported for the use of the Royal family. They include both cast and repoussé pieces, a number of which have been firmly attributed based on inscriptions: a group of three vessels at the Cleveland Museum of Art and a gilt silver plate at the Miho Museum, Shiga, Japan, see M. Carter, 'Three Silver Vessels from Tibet's Earliest Historical Era: A Preliminary Study,' Cleveland Studies in the History of Art, vol. 3, 1998, pp. 23-47; and a silver gilt bowl sold at Christie's New York, 19 September 2001, lot 130, now on loan to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Compare with a formally corresponding repoussé dish with a rampant tiger at center, in the Pierre Uldry Collection, see P. Uldry, Chinesisches Gold und Silber, 1994, cat. no. 128, dated 6th century; and an elliptical repoussé bowl likely of Sasanian origin of similar workmanship with extensive use of beaded borders, at the Freer Gallery, see A. Gunter and P. Jett, Ancient Iranian Metalwork in the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and the Freer Gallery of Art, 1992, cat. no. 28, p. 174.