Tang Dynasty Parcel-Gilt Silver Floriate Box and Cover

A rare Chinese parcel-gilt silver floriate box and cover, Tang Dynasty (618-906), Da Tang Zhenguan mark to base, the foliate box with four clearly demarcated points, between double scalloped sides, the domed lid exquisitely engraved and gilt with the auspicious mythical double phoenix fenghuang in flight, swirling about each other with outstretched wings, each holding a flowering branch of lotus within their beaks. Surrounded by an overall scrolling lotus tendril pattern, on a textured background. The lotus flower (a traditional Buddhist motif) is placed between eight separate pairs of confronting cranes. Cranes (he) and lotus (he) together represent a wish for peace and harmony., the sides of the box and matching cover are set against a ring-punched background with eight pairs of dappled deer illustrated in profile chasing one another and racing through scrolling tendrils., the lower section decorated with eight borderless gilded roundels of floral sprays, a very traditional motif of the Tang era. The ring foot decorated with eight ducks in flight. The ring foot and bottom of the box soldered together. The outline of the illustration in reverse can be seen from the interior of the box and cover, with four-character mark Da Tang zhenguan incised to the base., 33 cm diameter, 30 cm high. Reference, for similar examples of Tang dynasty silver lobed boxes and covers with parcel-gilt and traced ornament, please refer to R. Soame Jenyns et al., Chinese Art, Phaidon, Oxford 1980, pp.46-48, fig. 22, and the Tang lidded box in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, as illus. In J. Van Campen, Asian Art, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, 2014, pp. 160-161, Fig. 59. See also C. Michaelson, gilded dragons: Buried Treasures from china's golden Ages, London, 1999, pp. 150-151, fig. 107, for a very similar Tang silver box and cover. For another Tang silver dish with a leafy scroll design, from the Robert Hatfield Ellsworth collection, please refer to Christie's, New York, 20 March 2015, lot 728., Literature: J. Rawson, Chinese ornament - the lotus and the dragon, New York, 1984, figs. 82-86 and fig. 90, C. Michaelson, gilded dragons: Buried Treasures from china's golden Ages, London, 1999, pp. 59-63 and 130-137. Catalogue note, the mythical phoenix, the 'King' of the birds, was a popular motif used in the Tang dynasty and represents good fortune. The crane, considered the top-ranking bird was often illustrated to symbolise high status, wisdom and longevity, deer are highly auspicious, representing wealth and immortality, especially the 'Spotted' deer as they appear on the sides of this silver box. The 'Spotted' deer were believed to be the only animal able to locate the 'Fungus of immortality'. Deer appeared frequently on Tang silver possibly due to the influence of Sassanian and provincial Iranian silver in which they were portrayed predominantly, although already established earlier as a motif in Chinese tradition. The appearance of the lotus is also symbolic for purity, harmony, longevity, nobility and elegance. The number eight features significantly in this elaborate design, indicating a Buddhist design., the numerous auspicious designs on this box and cover strongly indicate that it May once have belonged to An important member of the Tang court, and was possibly used for Buddhist ritual., precious Tang silver pieces have long fascinated scholars and collectors from East to West, their very universal appeal perhaps reflecting the cosmopolitan nature of the period in which they were produced. The shape of this box and cover are characteristic of the Tang period.