Beschreibung:

A superb and important parcel-gilt silver 'lotus and pomegranate' bowlTang dynasty唐 銀局部鎏金石榴蓮花紋花式大盌 rendered in the shape of an open begonia flower, the widely flaring sides divided into four lobes and rising to an everted rim, all raised on a splayed foot of conforming shape, the interior superbly engraved and gilt with a central medallion enclosing an open flower issuing a small pomegranate and flanked by fan-like leaves together with an elaborate stem resembling a peacock tail, all reserved on a ring-punched ground and framed within a lappet border, the interior rim with a finely engraved and gilt band of further blooms on a ring-punched ground, the exterior entirely chased with a lush design of of single and double lotus flowers, some fully in bloom, others transforming into seed pods, with large fanning leaves, all reserved on a ring-punched ground, above a band of overlapping lappets, the foot naturalistically detailed as a furled lotus leaf, the exterior entirely gilt Width 9 ½ in., 24.3 cm