A GOLD AND FOUR SILVER FLOWER-FORM BOWLS

LIAO DYNASTY, SIXTEEN-CHARACTER INCISED INSCRIPTIONS DATED TO THE DINGMAO YEAR OF THE TAIPING PERIOD, CORRESPONDING TO 1027

Details

A GOLD AND FOUR SILVER FLOWER-FORM BOWLS
Liao dynasty, sixteen-character incised inscriptions dated to the dingmao year of the Taiping period, corresponding to 1027
Each with shallow petal-lobed sides rising from the flat base to a beaded rim, the gold bowl incised in the center with a kalavinka holding a sheng mouth organ in flight against a flower-strewn ring-punched ground within a 'pearl' border, her long scarves and tail of feathers trailing behind her; each of the four silver bowls decorated with a female dancer shown in a different pose amidst swirling scarves reserved on a similar ring-punched medallion; the same inscription incised along one side of the base of each bowl
4in. (10.2cm.) diam. approximately, box (5)

Lot Essay

The design of the mythological kalavinka (half bird, half woman) can be seen on two gold bowls similar to the present bowl, illustrated in Chinesisches Gold und Silber; Die Sammlung Pierre Uldry, Zurich, 1994, pl. 247 and on another sold in our London rooms, 12 June 1989, lot 92.

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