China - Gold & Silver

Bunker, Emma C. Adornment for the body and soul - Ancient Chinese ornaments from the Mengdiexuan Collection.
Hong Kong, University of Hong Kong, 1999, First Edition, Quarto, Softcover, book condition: New. 326 Pages, richly illustrated with full colour images and line drawings. Tekst in English and some Chinese.
A rich catalogue to an exhibition held in 1999 in Hong Kong on the private collection, Mengdiexuan, of ancient Chinese gold ornaments. This catalogue does not only show the objects lusciously photographed but gives a historical background of the time frame in which the objects were made and how they were made and worn.
A very good book for those interested in learning more about the way of life and beauty in ancient China.
Item nr: 9149

Eskenazi Ltd. Chinese and Korean Art from the Collections of Dr. Franco Vannotti, Hans Popper and Others.
London, Eskenazi, 1989, First Edition, Quarto, Cloth, book condition: Near Fine, dust jacket condition: Very Good. 132 Pages. Bibliography, chronology. 63 colour plates, 12 illustrations.
Catalogue of an exhibition of gold, silver, bronze, weapons, mirrors and ceramics. Includes an article 'Technique in Bronze and Precious Metal' by William Watson.
Item nr: 1662

Lam, Peter Y.K. Celestial Creations - Art of the Chinese Goldsmith, The Cheng Xun Tang Collection (2 Volumes).
Hong Kong, Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007, First edition, Octavo, Softcover with slipcase, book condition: New. 704 Pages, Illustrated with 485 colour plates. Chinese and English text.
In this two-volume catalogue, 395 items or 1,300 pieces of Chinese gold ornaments from the Shang to the Qing dynasties are featured. They are all selected from the renowned Cheng Xun Tang Collection. The catalogue aims at providing a comprehensive and systematic introduction to the art of Chinese goldsmith. Presented in the gold ornaments are rich motifs ranging from flowers and insects to legendary figures and auspicious symbols. Alongside religious patterns originated from Buddhism, Daoism or Tibetan art, there are also exotic designs imported from the Middle East and the West. The goldsmith techniques involve hammering, filigree, inlaying of gem stones and kingfisher feathers. In this catalogue all the gold ornaments are fully illustrated with detailed descriptive entries in both Chinese and English, mentioning comparable pieces excavated from an archaeological context or supplemented with sketch drawings. This two-volume catalogue published by the Art Museum, Institute of Chinese Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong will be an indispensable reference on Chinese gold ornament for years to come.
Item nr: 9130

Ling Roth, H. Oriental Silverwork: Malay And Chinese - A Handbook For Connoisseurs, Collectors, Students And Silversmiths.
London, Truslove & Hanson, 1910, First edition, Octavo, Hardcover, book condition: Very good: minor wear as usual. 300 Pages, over 250 illustrations in black and white.
A fine and rare standard reference work on Oriental silver. A classis in it's field which should be in every connoisseurs library!
Item nr: 9802

Lu, Changling Gems of Cultural Relics from Shangdong.
Shangdong, Shangdong Museum, 1996, First Edition, Quarto, Cloth, book condition: Very Good, dust jacket condition: Very Good. 280 Pages, 217 colour illustrations, text in Chinese. Small tear to spine of dustjacket.
This volume present a selection of 217 artefacts excavated during the past 30 years from sites in the Shandong province, including jades, ceramics, archaic bronzes, Buddhist sculptures, paintings, gold and silver, textiles, and lacquer. The examples chosen here are of excellent quality and a short essay is provided in each section.
Item nr: 3513

National Museum of Chinese History [Qidan Dynasty: Treasures of the Liao Dynasty from Inner Mongolia].
Beijing, National Museum of Chinese History, 2002, First Edition, Quarto, Soft Cover, book condition: As New. Qidan Wangchao: Nei Menggu Liaodai Wenwu Jinghua
355 pages, over 300 colour illustrations, text in Chinese.
This volume is the catalogue of the largest exhibition of treasures of the Liao dynasty held at the National Museum of Chinese History, Beijing. It illustrates over 200 objects excavated from Liao dynasty tombs and temples, providing a comprehensive view of the rich culture of the Qidan people. In addition to important objects such as imperial masks and burial suits previously published, the book includes a large number of items shown here for the first time, including painted and carved woods, furniture, stunning jewelry and textiles, gold and silver wares, jade and hardstone carvings, glasswares, ceramics, and Buddhist sculptures and relics. Text in Chinese.
Item nr: 9390

Shen, Hsueh-man Gilded Splendor: Treasures of China's Liao Empire (907 - 1125).
Milan, 5 Continents Editions, 2006, First edition, Quarto, Hardcover, book condition: Near Fine. 392 Pages, 121 select items in colour, some with multiple views, 85 figures, most in colour, map of Liao, map of Liao Empire and its neighbors, developments and benchmarks of the Liao Dynasty, chronology, glossary of words and names, bibliography, catalogue contributors, index.
The first major volume to explore one of China’s most influential yet little known dynasties which brings to life one of China’s forgotten empires and its unique culture. Around 1000 AD, the greatest power in East Asia was the empire of Liao. Established with astonishing speed at the beginning of the tenth century by the Qidan, a confederation of nomads whose homeland was the eastern end of the Eurasian steppes, the Liao empire eventually comprised the greater part of Manchuria, eastern Mongolia and north China. Yet despite their power and influence, the Liao empire crumbled almost as quickly as it arose, falling in 1125 to another wave of nomads.
The book will present, for the first time, spectacular artifacts from the most important archaeological discoveries. The masterpiece will be the complete funerary outfit of the Princess of Chen, granddaughter of the Liao Emperor Jing Zong including the gilt bronze death masks of the princess and her husband, her silver wire burial suit, silver gilt crown, boots and pillow, as well as jewelry in gold, silver and jade, and more exotic materials such as amber and crystal.
Nomad traditions are prominently represented by horse trappings in silver, jade and gold as well and by a complete wooden saddle with silver gilt mounts. Unique Liao objects include a jade and gold wire falcon rest, a jade scepter finial, and jade and silver hunting knives. Also shown will be ceramics, textiles and wooden objects including large models of buildings. They reveal a highly sophisticated and complex material culture in which nomadic and Chinese traditions interacted to create a unique cultural milieu.
Item nr: 10117