A FINE AND VERY RARE PARCEL-GILT SILVER 'RHINOCEROS' DISH TANG DYNASTY, 8TH/9TH CENTURY

possibly a pair to lot 59, this dish is of similar shallow circular shape with everted sides rising from a splayed footring, the interior similarly decorated in repoussé and parcel-gilt depicting a rhinoceros standing four-square and facing right, his stout body with scaly hides and supporting a lotus howdah carrying three large flowers, all enclosed by a raised gilt ridge and set on a plain silver ground



 

Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 1954-55, cat. no. 120.

Chinese Gold, Silver and Porcelain. The Kempe Collection, Asia House Gallery, New York, 1971, cat. no. 59, 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. 120.

Bo Gyllensvärd, 'T'ang Gold and Silver', Bulletin of the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, no. 29, 1957, fig. 63b.

Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection, The Museum of Art and Far Eastern Antiquities in Ulricehamn, Ulricehamn, 1999, pl. 122.

There is some disruption and pitting to the surface of the interior rim. A larger part of the area of the exterior of the dish may have either suffered from corrosion or may have been restored. There appear to be noticeable losses to the rim of the dish due to corrosion. The surface of the dish appears to have been cleaned and may have been covered with a layer of lacquer or varnish to protect them from tarnishing. The surface shows very light overall wear and scratching 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."

See the discussion of the companion dish, lot 59.