Box, China, Tang dynasty (618-906), 8th century, silver, d 11.5 cm. Courtesy Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Cup, China, Tang dynasty (618-906), 8th century, silver, h 6.0cm × d 6.4cm. Courtesy Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Silverware from the late Tang period is one of the most refined productions of Chinese applied art. The craftsmanship is unparalleled: every dot was individually punched into the surface. Here, flower sprays and animal motifs have been executed with minute attention to detail and elegantly distributed over the surface.