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Lot 62
A PARCEL-GILT AND REPOUSSÉ SILVER 'DRAGON' BOWL Liao Dynasty, dated by inscription to the bingyin year of the Taiping era, corresponding to 1026
14 December 2023, 17:00 EST
New YorkSold for US$32,000 inc. premium
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A PARCEL-GILT AND REPOUSSÉ SILVER 'DRAGON' BOWL
Liao Dynasty, dated by inscription to the bingyin year of the Taiping era, corresponding to 1026
The shallow bowl repoussé and parcel-gilt with a three-claw dragon pursuing a flaming pearl at the center, surrounded by finely chased cloud scrolls over a ring-punched 'fish roe' ground ending at a plain border, the walls decorated with chased half-medallion floret design, the rim with soldered beading all around, the underside with a 22-character chased inscription along the plain border, the silver tarnished to various tones of grey.
6 7/8 (17.5cm) diam
The shallow bowl repoussé and parcel-gilt with a three-claw dragon pursuing a flaming pearl at the center, surrounded by finely chased cloud scrolls over a ring-punched 'fish roe' ground ending at a plain border, the walls decorated with chased half-medallion floret design, the rim with soldered beading all around, the underside with a 22-character chased inscription along the plain border, the silver tarnished to various tones of grey.
6 7/8 (17.5cm) diam
Footnotes
遼 太平丙寅款 文忠王鎏金鏨龍紋盌
The inscription on the reverse may be read as:
太平丙寅吉匠造成進奉文忠王府殿前祈求永福用皿
and may be translated as:
Bingyin year of the Taiping era, the auspicious artisan made [this vessel] for the offerings at the [ancestor] hall of Duke Wenzhong's mansion, praying for ever-lasting prosperity.
Han Derang (韓德讓, 941-1011), posthumous title Wenzhong, was the most powerful Prime Minister in the Liao dynasty, serving the reign of Dowager Empress Xiao (regency 982-1009) and Emperor Shengzong (r. 982-1031). Born to a Han ethnicity family under the Liao rule, Han Derang led major battles against the Northern Song, and played a key role in the peace negotiation with the Song court. The close relationship of Han Derang with the Liao imperial family was reflected in his epitaph: "The Emperor's loyal official, beloved brother" (皇帝義重君臣，情深兄弟). He was instrumental in stabilizing the Liao court when Emperor Shengzong took the reign at the age of 12. During the regency period, the Dowager Empress relied heavily on Han Derang's consultancy in politics and military actions, and it was rumored that she had an intimate relationship with Han. After the death of Dowager Empress Xiao, Han Derang was ordered to accompany Emperor Shengzong to the war with Goryeo, and died in battle at the age of 70. His funeral followed the rites of a Liao prince, and he was buried adjacent to the Liao imperial tomb Qianling.
A very similar parcel-gilt and repoussé silver 'dragon' bowl inscribed and associated with the mansion of Duke Wenzhong (文忠王府), dated by inscription to the fifth year of Taiping, corresponding to 1025, is illustrated by Deydier, Imperial Gold from Ancient China, Part II, Oriental Bronzes Ltd., London, 1991, pp. 40-41, no. 12.
A petal-lobed parcel-gilt and repoussé silver bowl with engraved inscription dedicated to the Duke Wenzhong mansion, dated to the bingyin year of the Taiping era corresponding to 1026, is in the collection of the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco and illustrated on the museum's website, accession number 1990.206. Another closely related parcel-gilt and repoussé silver bowl from the collection of Florence and Herbert Irving and donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, was sold at Sotheby's New York, 10 September 2019, lot 125, described as dated by inscription to the Dingmao year of the Taipiing era, corresponding to 1027.
A Ding ware shallow bowl of this form with very similar carved dragon design at the well, from the Carl Kempe Collection, is illustrated by Gyllensvärd in the catalog of exhibition organized by the Asia Society, Chinese Gold, Silver and Porcelain: The Kempe Collection, New York, 1971, p. 108, no. 107, described as Northern Song dynasty.