A Rare Dated Parcel-Gilt Silver Bowl and Cover

INSCRIBED DATE OF 12TH DAY OF THE 9TH MONTH OF THE TAIPING YEAR (1026), LIAO DYNASTY

Details

A Rare Dated Parcel-Gilt Silver Bowl and Cover
Inscribed date of 12th day of the 9th month of the Taiping year (1026), Liao dynasty
The interior of the shallow, rounded bowl chased in high relief in the center with a phoenix highlighted in gilding dancing with wings spread above a chased inscription arranged in a curved line, below a narrow band of gilded overlapping petals at the everted rim, the exterior chased and gilded with six detached peony blossoms shown in profile and repeated on the cover encircling the open ring handle enclosing a peony spray medallion inscribed with four characters, Wen Zhong wang fu
6¼in. (15.8cm.) diam.

Lot Essay

The inscription may be translated, 'Praying for great fortune, this dish was made on the 12th day of the 9th month of the Taiping year (1026), respectfully given as a tribute offering by Xuan Hui of the South Office together with his ministers.' The four characters, Wen Zhong wang fu, may be translated, 'Wen Zhong, princely establishment'. Wang fu is a title given to the staff who attended to imperial sons other than the heir apparent.

The shape and style of foliate decoration of this bowl and cover is based on that of Tang dynasty parcel-gilt silver prototypes, such as the example excavated in 1970 from the ruins of Xinghuafang, included in the exhibition, Archaeological Treasures Excavated in the People's Republic of China, Tokyo National Museum, 1973, no. 152.

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