14. Circular gold dish

Song dynasty, 960 - 1279
Diameter: 13.5cm
 
This dish is a rare example of Song gold workmanship and would most likely have been produced for use at court or for very high-ranking patrons. The emphasis on simplicity of form and the fluid use of organic motifs drawn from nature call to mind the aesthetics of Song ceramics such as seen on Ding ware. Despite the apparent simplicity of the arrangement, numerous complex metalwork techniques – such as chasing, incising and ring-matting - were used to achieve the striking design on this dish.