- 144
A gold cup with incised and pin-pricked decoration, Central Asia, 14th Century
Estimate
30,000 - 50,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- Gold
composed of finely hammered gold, with a bulbous body, cylindrical flaring neck and everted rim, on a short, splayed foot, with very fine pin-pricked pointillé decoration featuring floral designs and minor bands of cintamani triple-dot motifs, the foot engraved with stiff petals
Provenance
Ex-Collection Carl Kempe
Condition
In good condition, few minor dents to rim and foot consistent with material and age, as viewed.
"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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
Surviving pieces of early gold from Central Asia are extremely rare (since gold was commonly melted down and minted for coinage) and provide us with a unique insight into the cross-pollination brought about by commercial and cultural exchange along the Silk Road, in particular exchange between China, Persia and the Arab lands of the Near East. This striking gold cup can be compared with a variety of models from the Mongol and Timurid periods of the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries. For example, a gold stem-cup in the Inner Mongolia Museum in Huhehaote features a similar style and technique to the present cup, notably in the refined surface with incised and pin-pricked decoration and lotus blossom motifs (illustrated in Kessler 1993, pp.162-163, no. 107).