A SUPERB SILVER 'ANIMAL' BOWL TANG DYNASTY, LATE 7TH/EARLY 8TH CENTURY

with gently rounded sides and a flat base, the exterior superbly decorated with a finely chased and engraved continuous design of symmetrically arranged bands of heart-shaped floral scrolls issuing arched, curling tendrils and leaves and enclosing palmettes, grapes and volutes, the central band of scrolls depicting various animals in different poses, among them an elephant and a camel, below a stylised vine scroll interspersed with birds finely chased at  the slightly everted rim, all against a very finely executed circle-punched ground

Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 1954-55, cat. no. 99.

Chinese Gold, Silver and Porcelain. The Kempe Collection, Asia House Gallery, New York, 1971, cat. no. 45, an exhibition touring the United States and shown also at nine other museums.

Bo Gyllensvärd, Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1953, pl. 99.

Bo Gyllensvärd, 'T'ang Gold and Silver', Bulletin of the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, Stockholm, 1957, no.29, figs. 19c, 63a, 78j, 78k.

Han Wei, Hai nei wai Tangdai jin yin qi cuibian [Tang gold and silver in Chinese and overseas collections], Xi'an, 1989, pl. 121.

Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, The Museum of Art and Far Eastern Antiquities in Ulricehamn, Ulricehamn, 1999, pl. 101.

The bowl is in overall very good condition. The surface of the bowl has a number of pitted areas some of which are tarnished. Two streaks of heavy tarnish are visible to the interior surface of the bowl. They measure approx 5cm x 2.5 cm long. It is possible that the bowl has been cleaned in the past and lacquered to provide protection against tarnishing. These tarnished areas look as if they may have been missed. The surface is slightly distorted and shows very light overall wear consistent with age.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This bowl is outstanding in its extremely fine workmanship and in its design which reflects the familiarity and fascination of Tang high society with exotic animals introduced via the the Silk.

Although the present bowl appears to be unique, it is stylistically comparable with a footed bowl of similar form and size, densely decorated with a series of small figures amongst birds, animals and flowering branches, from the collection of Frederick M. Mayer and included in the exhibition The Arts of the T'ang Dynasty, Los Angeles County Museum, Los Angeles, 1957, cat. no. 327, sold at Christie's London, 24/25^th June 1974, lot 171, and again in these rooms, 30^th March 1978, lot 67. See another slightly smaller footed bowl of this rich decoration from the collection of Dr. Pierre Uldry included in the exhibition Chinesisches Gold und Silber, Rietberg Museum, Zurich, 1994, cat. no. 143.

It is rare to find Tang silver bowls of this simple yet elegant form decorated with an overall chased design as seen on the present vessel. The design pattern is expertly placed and superbly executed, a testament to the very fine workmanship of the Tang silversmith. Vessels of this exquisite quality and rich decorative motif were made for imperial use at the many banquets held by the Tang court. For further information on the use of silver and gold utensils used at banquets see Han Wei, 'Gold and Silver Vessels of the Tang Period', Orientations, July 1994, pp. 31-35.