8th-9th Century

Lot 502. An unusual bronze square mirror, Tang dynasty, 8th-9th century; 5 7/8 in. (14.8 cm.) square. Estimate USD 6,000 - USD 9,000. Price realised USD 6,250. © Christie's Image Ltd 2008.   One side cast with two confronted lions wildly leaping on either side of the central knop on a ground of tiny bosses within a raised outer border, the reverse plain, the silvery surface with areas of satiny black patina and green encrustation. Provenance: Acquired at auction,... [Lire la suite]

Lot 161. A fine silk samite fragment with confronted deer and lions, Central Asia, Sogdiana, 8th-9th century; 47.5 by 64cm; 53 by 69cm mounted. Estimate 20,000 — 25,000 GBP. Lot sold 22,500 GBP. Courtesy Sotheby's 2017.  a large fragment, woven in weft-faced polychrome compound twill with red, green, honey and blue threads, the design comprising pearl roundels containing facing stags and lions between a stylised tree, with foliate medallions between. Note: Designed with the... [Lire la suite]

Lot 160. A fine silk samite fragment with deer, Central Asia, Sogdiana, 8th-9th century; 45.5 by 62cm; 52 by 66cm mounted. Estimate 15,000 — 20,000 GBP. Lot sold 40,000 GBP. Courtesy Sotheby's 2017.  comprising a central section with two stitched components on each side, woven in weft-faced polychrome compound twill with red, green, honey and blue threads, featuring a large foliate medallion enclosing a finely outlined stag with floral coat, blossoming lotus palmettes... [Lire la suite]

Steelyard, bronze with engraved inscription, Middle East, 8th-9th century, L (arm): 52.5 cm, Inv. no. 12/1994. © The David Collection. The use of steelyards dates back to before the Christian era in the Mediterranean region. A counterweight is moved along the arm until it and the object to be weighed are in balance. The arm can typically be turned, since it has several balance points and their scales, making it possible to weigh both heavy and light objects. Steelyards were used since the advent of Islam, and the earliest datable... [Lire la suite]

Flacon of blue glass with marvered white-thread decoration, Egypt or Syria, 8th-9th century, H: 5.5 cm, Inv. no. 31/2003. © The David Collection. This little flacon, which was used for fragrant oil or balsam, belongs to a well-known type that has been excavated in strata that can be dated to the 8th-9th century. The flacon was made using a technique that goes back to Roman times. The white decoration was created by marvering threads of white glass into the hot, dark basic mass and then “combing” the glass to create a wavy... [Lire la suite]

Earthenware cup with molded decoration and yellow and green glazes, Iraq or Syria, 8th-9th century. H: 7; Diam without handle: 13.9 cm, Inv. no. 4/2006. © The David Collection. The cup was given uniform, fairly small-patterned decorations in low relief. This type of decoration was found in the Umayyad period, though most often on unglazed ceramics, and continued under the Abbasids. Decorations like these – with rosettes, a scale-like pattern, etc. – could be applied to the finished piece by repeatedly using one or more... [Lire la suite]

Earthenware cup with molded or stamped decoration and a yellow and green glaze, Iraq or Syria, 8th-9th century. H: 7.8; Diam. at top: 12 cm, Inv. no. 26/1995 © The David Collection. Both the shape and the decoration of this cup with a handle were undoubtedly derived from models made of silver, and the prototypes could be both Roman and Sasanian. The type of pottery was already found in the Umayyad period, though most often without a glaze, while this cup was probably made slightly later, under the Abbasids. Decorations like these... [Lire la suite]

Lot 56. A rare silver spherical censer, Tang dynasty, 8th-9th century, 5cm., 2in. Estimate 15,000 — 20,000 GBP. Lot sold 84,500 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's. comprised of two reticulated half-spheres banded and joined at the median by a hook on one side and a hinge on the other, one half worked with an overall pattern of scrolled leafy tendrils surrounding confronting pairs of birds feeding on grape vines, on the lower half incorporating palmette leaves, the interior with an arrangement of two silver bands... [Lire la suite]

Lot 73. A superb and rare parcel-gilt silver leys jar, Tang dynasty, 8th-9th century, 10.9cm., 4 1/4 in. Estimate 70,000 — 90,000 GBP. Lot sold 264,500 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's. of compressed globular form resting on a splayed foot and flaring at the dish-shaped mouth divided into four lobes, the body parcel-gilt and finely and delicately chased and engraved with three luscious peony sprays featuring large fully opened blooms and finely-veined feathery leaves, with a... [Lire la suite]

Lot 60. A fine and very rare parcel-gilt 'rhinoceros' silver dish, Tang dynasty, 8th-9th century, 15.2cm., 6in. Estimate 10,000 — 15,000 GBP. Lot sold 168,500 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's. possibly a pair to lot 59, this dish is of similar shallow circular shape with everted sides rising from a splayed footring, the interior similarly decorated in repoussé and parcel-gilt depicting a rhinoceros standing four-square and facing right, his stout body with scaly hides and supporting a... [Lire la suite]