Title
Four-lobed bowl with carp decoration
Year/Period
Tang Dynasty, China (618 - 907)
Region
Unknown
Material
Dimension
Object Size: 5.5 x 22.5 x 25.5 cm
Accession No.
2005.1-00386
Collection of
Credit Line
The Tang Shipwreck was acquired through the generous donation of the Estate of Khoo Teck Puat.
This silver bowl could have been used for food. The bowl is decorated with carps, which symbolise wealth and harmony in Chinese culture.During the Tang dynasty, gold and silver vessels were highly prized by Tang elites for their luxurious appeal. Beyond their association with status, however, many believed that eating and drinking from utensils made of precious metal would enhance one’s longevity. Objects made of silver were among the many items recovered from the Tang shipwreck, a 9th-century vessel was en route from China to Middle East when it sank off the coast of Belitung Island in the Java Sea.
