Flexibility to trade with many countries across the Silk Routes marked a golden age of cosmopolitan culture in Chinese history.
The Tang dynasty (618-907 CE) was a flourishing period of cultural exchanges between East and West. It profoundly inspired a plethora of Chinese art, including sculptures, paintings and pottery.
Two silver vessels are featured as highlights in Christie’s New York Asian Art Week. It will take place on 23 and 24 September.
Carl Kempe (1884-1967) owned an extensive Chinese collection, including artworks made in gold and silver
Carl Kempe
Both silver vessels were formerly part of a Swedish collector, Dr. Johan Carl Kempe (1884-1967).
The British Museum set up a special page to introduce Kempe’s collection status. He belonged to a group of Chinese art connoisseurs who began collecting in about 1930; he was also a member of the Chinese Club in Stockholm (a local branch of the Oriental Ceramic Society in London). Following his initial interest in Chinese art in the 1920s, Kempe and his wife travelled to China, where it has been reported that he purchased 250 items of Chinese Art.
His collection consisted of three main categories, namely Chinese gold and silver from the Zhou dynasty (1046-256 BCE) to the Qing dynasty (1644-1911), Qing dynasty polychrome porcelains and Chinese glass.
After his death, Kempe’s collection continued to be displayed at his mansion, Ekolsund. 150 items made in ceramics, gold and silver from the collection were then sent on a touring exhibition in the United States during the 1970s.
A parcel-gilt silver bowl from the Tang dynasty, also from Kempe's collection, was sold for US$3.5 million dollars at Christie’s Masterpieces of Early Chinese Gold and Silver Autumn Sale in 2019. The overall sale also delivered a solid total hammer price of US$9.96 million dollars, exceeding its pre-sale estimate of between US$5.1 to 7.6 million dollars. The sale achieved an 85 per cent sell-through rate by selling 86 out 101 lots offered.
Lot 708｜Parcel-Gilt Silver ‘Rhinoceros’ Dish
Created in Tang dynasty (618-907 CE)
Diameter: 15.2 cm
Weight: 315 g
Provenance (Amended by The Value):
- Dr. Johan Carl Kempe (1884-1967) Collection, Sweden, before 1953.
- Sotheby’s London, Masterpieces of Chinese Precious Metalwork. Early Gold and Silver, 14 May 2008, Lot 59. (Sold at £390,100)
Estimated Price: US$1,000,000 – 1,500,000
Importance
Exotic animals, including rhinoceros (this silver bowl’s main feature), were typically offered to the Chinese Emperor as tribute by foreign states, nations in Southeast Asia often presenting rhinoceros horns and hides as gifts and occasionally presenting live animals, as well, which were kept in imperial parks in the capital.
Both archaeological and literary evidence show that rhinoceroses lived in China, even in northern China, in early times. Due to over-hunting the rhinoceros had become extinct in northern China by Tang times but was still known in parts of southern China.
A rhinoceros is stylistically and accurately depicted at the centre of the silver vessel
Iconography
A rhinoceros is depicted in bas-relief at the centre of the vessel. It faces the viewer’s left-hand side.
Three stylised blossoms, displayed on a lotus petal stand, is on the rhinoceros’ back. The animal’s body is divided into three parts and covered with scales. The rhinoceros’ form and bulk are accurately captured, despite being stylistically represented. Two horns, a long tail and four short legs with three toes on each foot are shown.
A raised bowstring line encircles the floor’s central medallion, while a pair of raised bowstring lines accentuate the dish’s lip. The walls of this relatively shallow vessel expand outward in a gentle S-curve, uncommon to Tang silver dishes.
The silver vessel's flip bottom side
Price Significance
This rhinoceros silver vessel was previously auctioned in Sotheby's London Masterpieces of Chinese Precious Metalwork. Early Gold and Silver sales in 2008. It had an estimated price of £40,000 to £60,000 pounds. The final hammer price was £390,100 pounds, approximately 9 times more than the estimated price.
This vessel will appear in this year's sale, and is estimated between US$1,000,000 and US$1,500,000 dollars. It is this sale's highest estimated priced lot.
Overall, it is also one of the cover highlight for Christie's Asian Art Week sales.
Lot 709｜Silver ‘Animals’ Bowl
Created in Tang dynasty (618-907 CE)
Diameter: 16.5 cm
Weight: 331 g
Provenance (Amended by The Value):
- Dr. Johan Carl Kempe (1884-1967) Collection, Sweden, before 1953.
- Sotheby’s London, Masterpieces of Chinese Precious Metalwork. Early Gold and Silver, 14 May 2008, Lot 44. (Sold at £446,100)
Estimated Price: US$900,000 - 1,200,000
Importance
This silver bowl originates from Tang dynasty in China. The vessel was ultimately inspired by by luxury goods crafted in precious metals that were reaching Chang’an (modern-day Xi’an), the Tang capital, from ancient Persia via the fabled Silk Route. Those imported Persian goods themselves were inspired by gold and silver vessels crafted in ancient Rome.
The decoration, all of which appears against the punched, ring-mat ground is known as "fish-roe pattern" in Chinese.
Silver and gold vessels from the Hejiacun hoard are believed to have been made in workshops in the Xinghua Square area of Chang’an, or one closely allied with them.
Exotic animals and peach-shaped medallions decorate the silver bowl's exterior
Iconography
Four tiers of recurring, heart-shaped medallions encircle the bowl’s exterior. Tucked within heart-shaped medallion, many animals are recognisable. A camel, elephant, boars, foxes and wolves are some examples. This decoration was possibly inspired by the vine scrolls, popular in the arts of ancient Rome and that were disseminated along the Silk Route.
This bowl was shaped from a single piece of silver hammered into shape over a matrix, probably of wood. The decorative motifs were either engraved or chased on the exterior, after which the background areas were punched to create the ring-matted ground.
Price Significance
This animals vessel was previously auctioned in Sotheby's London Masterpieces of Chinese Precious Metalwork. Early Gold and Silver sales in 2008. It had an estimated price of £150,000 to £200,000 pounds. The final hammer price was £446,100 pounds.
This year's auction sale estimates this same vessel between US$900,000 and US$1,200,000 dollars. It is this sale's second highest priced lot.
Auction Details:
Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art
Auction House: Christie’s New York
Dates:
• Lots 701 – 882 | 23 September 2021, 8:30am New York Time
• Lots 901 – 1055 | 24 September 2021, 8:30am New York Time