Lot 170. A Pair of silver foliate cups, Song Dynasty  (960-1127). 4 1/4 in., 10.7 cm. Estimate 20,000 — 30,000 USD. Lot sold 26,400 USD. Courtesy Sotheby's.

each of hexafoil form with thin sides chased with petals delineated by wavy lines radiating out from a slightly raised prunus flowerhead in the center of the well, with further feathery leaves outlined with circle-punches, all supported on a slighly flared footring, the interior near the rim stamped with a maker's mark.

Note: The elegant shape of this Song silver pair of cups is seldom found although a related foliate cup, from the Pierre Uldry collection, was included in the exhibition  Chinesisches Gold und Silber, Museum Rietberg, Zürich, 1994, cat.no. 280.