BIRD MOTIFS ON TANG METALWORK
One of the more requently recurring motifs found on this small collection of Tang metalwork is the bird. Birds, both big and small, crop up across the Tang dynasty. In medieval china, specific birds carried specific symbolism: magpies as good fortune; eagle as power; geese and ducks as loyalty, particularly in marital contexts; and peacocks as beauty and dignity. 1
Many of the birds, if not most, featured on these pieces of metalwork are highly stylized and thus less clearly identifiable as specific species. However, there still may have been specific birds, carrying specific symbolism, that may be attributed to some of these works.
Six Pointed Silver Box
Silver, Xi'an Eastern Suburb Xibei Guomian Wuchang, dated to 718 CE
Six Pointed Lobed Gold Mirror
Copper, Silver, and Gold, Xi'an Eastern Suburb Xibei Guomian Wuchang tomb 29, Dated to 732
Shell Box with Mirrored Birds
Gilt silver, Xi'an Eastern Suburb Xibei Guomian Wuchang, dated to 718 CE
Shell Box with Birds
Gilt silver box, Xi'an Eastern Suburb Xibei Guomian Wuchang, dated to 718 CE
Gilt Silver Box with Deer and Elephant
Gilt silver, Xi'an Eastern Suburb Xibei Guomian Wuchang, dated to 718 CE
Silver Box with Two Birds
Silver,Xi'an Eastern Suburb Xibei Guomian Wuchang tomb 65, dated to 732 CE
Silver Gilt Vessel with 3 Legs
Partly gilt silver, Xi'an Eastern Suburb Xibei Guomian Wuchang tomb 65, dated to 718 CE
Round Mirror with Birds
Found in tomb M1025 object 7, dated 847 CE (tomb dated)
Round Mirror with Small Birds
Found in tomb M1710 object 1. 718 CE (tomb dated)
Mirror with Birds
Found in object M1003 object 7, 706 CE (tomb dated)
Mirror with Two Large Birds
Found in tomb M2443 object 10, 843 CE (tomb dated)
Eight-Lobed Mirror with Animals
Found in tomb M1008 object 21, 706 CE (tomb dated)
Eight-Lobed Mirror with Birds
Found in tomb M2731 object 25, 750 CE (tomb dated)
Eight-Lobed Mirror with Birds
Found in tomb M1204 object 40, 745 CE (tomb dated).
Six-Lobed Mirror with Pair of Birds
Found in tomb M5036 object 4, 778 CE (tomb dated)
Tripod with a Bird’s Head
Found in tomb M2603 object 23, dated to 738 CE (tomb dated)
Shell Box with pair of Birds
Clam shell shaped box with incized image of two birds surrounded by foliage and flowers on either side. Found in a dated (M5036 object 20) dated to 778 CE. There is no individual date for this object.
Black ground Mirror with Birds and Flowers
Tomb M4206 Object 10, 775 CE
Black ground Mirror with Birds
Tomb 5036, object 1, 778 CE
Square Box
Tomb M1819 object 13, 858 CE.
Rounded square box with birds
Tomb M2544 Object 38 814 CE
Shell Container with Flowers and Birds
Tomb M2603, object 40, 738 CE