Liao‑Jin‑Period Agate Lobed Flower‑Mouthed Cup

拍品描述

Dimensions: 8 cm (3.15 in) diameter, 4.5 cm (1.77 in) height, 69 g weight, 10th-13th century. Condition and Provenance: The agate cup is intact and without cracks. The body is translucent and has a bright luster. The rim, petal pattern, and flower-shaped foot are all finely polished. There is a very small ancient shallow chip on the rim. Overall, it shows natural signs of aging. There is no modern polishing or later alteration. This cup is from a private collection in New York City, New York, USA, purchased from an antique dealer in Vancouver in 2002, and comes with an original acquisition card and old photographs. Description: This Liao-Jin period agate petal-shaped cup was a vessel used by nobles for drinking wine and tea during the Liao-Jin period. The body is carved from natural light-colored translucent agate and is hollow inside. The rim is in the shape of a five-petaled flared flower, the body is shaped like melon petals, and the foot is also flower-shaped. The cup wall is of uniform thickness, and both the inner and outer surfaces are finely polished. Its petal-shaped outline inherits the aesthetic tradition of Tang and Song dynasty gold and silver vessels. The nomadic tribes of the steppes highly valued imported high-quality agate, often carving it into shapes resembling metal utensils. The translucent agate material complements the soft, elegant contours, showcasing superb openwork carving techniques. Well-preserved practical agate cups from the Liao and Jin dynasties are extremely rare. This artifact provides invaluable material evidence for the study of agate carving techniques and the material culture of the steppe nobility.

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