Lot 249
249
A fragment of compound-weave silk, the red ground woven with a pair of confronting birds standing on a split palmette, encircled by a pearl roundel surround, the interstices with directional palmette medallions--12½ x 10½in. (32 x 26.5cm.), Chinese, Tang Dynasty, joined, damages; and a fragment of compound-weave silk woven with a green and ivory flower-head medallion against a red ground, the surround with sections of pearl borders and with partial depiction of an animal, possibly a deer--6½ x 8¾in. (17 x 19.5cm.), Chinese, Tang Dynasty, joined
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VA… Read more
A fragment of compound-weave silk, the red ground woven with a pair of confronting birds standing on a split palmette, encircled by a pearl roundel surround, the interstices with directional palmette medallions--12½ x 10½in. (32 x 26.5cm.), Chinese, Tang Dynasty, joined, damages; and a fragment of compound-weave silk woven with a green and ivory flower-head medallion against a red ground, the surround with sections of pearl borders and with partial depiction of an animal, possibly a deer--6½ x 8¾in. (17 x 19.5cm.), Chinese, Tang Dynasty, joined

Details
A fragment of compound-weave silk, the red ground woven with a pair of confronting birds standing on a split palmette, encircled by a pearl roundel surround, the interstices with directional palmette medallions--12½ x 10½in. (32 x 26.5cm.), Chinese, Tang Dynasty, joined, damages; and a fragment of compound-weave silk woven with a green and ivory flower-head medallion against a red ground, the surround with sections of pearl borders and with partial depiction of an animal, possibly a deer--6½ x 8¾in. (17 x 19.5cm.), Chinese, Tang Dynasty, joined
See Illustration (2)
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

The paired bird motif is typical of 8th century Chinese silks. It also appears in contemporary Sogdian silks. For a comparative example see When Silk was Gold, Central Asian and Chinese Textiles, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, cat. no. 5, pages 34-35

More from Islamic and Asian Costume and Textiles

View All
View All