J.J. Lally & Co., Oriental Art / New York City, New York

27.
A SILVER FLOWER-SHAPED WINECUP AND STAND

Northern Song Dynasty, A.D. 10th-11th Century

the cup with rounded sides divided into five petal lobes by notches around the rim and with corresponding deep grooves extending down the exterior, resting on a hollow foot with splayed edge, the dish-shaped stand with wide flat rim also divided into five lobes by notches on the upturned edge and raised on a wide ring foot with flaring edge, with a platform to receive the cup in the center of the stand, decorated in repoussé technique with a ring of lotus petal lappets radiating down from a raised rim encircling the flat central medallion which is incised with lotus seed motifs and stippled details to simulate the top of a lotus pod, the petals around the platform chased with fine linear details and with tiny stamens radiating out between the petal tips, the thin silver unevenly tarnished and the base of the cup lightly incised with a single freely written character.

Diameter of cup 3 ³⁄₈ inches (8.6 cm)
Diameter of stand 5 ⁷⁄₈ inches (15 cm)