Lot 163
CHINESE ENGRAVED SILVER 'DOUBLE BIRD' HANDLED CUP
YUAN DYNASTY
Auction: 15 May 2026 from 10:00 BST
Description
元 銀鏨花雙鳥紋鋬耳杯
decorated at the inner base with two birds in flight, the crescent-shaped flange engraved with floral motif, a loop ring underneath the flange, the rims finished with a rolled border
Dimensions
10.5cm; 37g
Provenance
Private collection, London
倫敦私人收藏
Footnote
Gold and silver were less coveted in ancient China than in Rome or Parthia, but they gained importance by the Tang dynasty (AD 618–907) due to the Silk Road trade with western neighbours. Chinese goldsmiths imitated foreign shapes and styles of the imported goods, and developed new techniques under Central Asian craftsmen who settled in Chinese cities from the mid‑7th century. This cup, likely used for drinking alcohol, clearly shows how foreign vessel forms were imitated during the Tang dynasty. Compare to a gold cup with incised detail, also dated to the Yuan dynasty, is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, accession number M.30-1935. Another Yuan dynasty gilt-bronze handled cup was sold at Bonhams New York, 18 September 2023, lot 97.
金銀在中國古代不如在羅馬或帕提亞等文明中如此備受珍視，但到了唐朝（公元618–907年），由於與西方鄰國經由絲綢之路的貿易往來頻繁，金銀的地位逐漸變得更加重要。中國的金匠模仿進口物品的外來形制與風格，並在自七世紀中葉起定居於中國城市的中亞工匠影響下，發展出新的技術。此杯很可能用於飲酒，清楚地展現了唐代對外來器形的模仿。與此器相比，倫敦維多利亞與艾伯特博物館收藏有一件刻有精細紋飾的金杯，亦定年元代，館藏編號M.30-1935。另一件元代鍍金銅柄杯，2023年9月18日紐約邦瀚斯售出，拍品97。
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