Sui and Tang Dynasties

隋唐

581 CE — 960 CE

Cosmopolitan and technically inventive. Silver and gilt-silver hairpins with inlaid glass, granulated gold, and ornaments showing clear links to Sasanian and Central Asian metalwork. Tomb finds, including that of Li Jingxun (d. 608), preserve complete sets.

Forms in this period

Objects

Pendant

Textile Ornaments(?): Pair of Phoenixes

Sui and Tang Dynastiesbeaten gold with chased detail

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Thin gold sheet cut in the shape of a phoenix, with chased details on the surface

Pendant

Textile Ornament(?): Phoenix

Sui and Tang Dynastiesbeaten gold with chased detail

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Gold sheet ornament in the form of a phoenix, chased with fine surface detail

Pendant

Textile Ornament(?): Phoenix

Sui and Tang Dynastiesbeaten gold with chased detail

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Gilt silver hairpin, sui and tang dynasties, 14.3 cm long.

Zan (hairpin)

Hair Ornament

Sui and Tang DynastiesGilt silver

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Gilt silver hairpin, sui and tang dynasties, 12.7 cm long.

Zan (hairpin)

Hair Ornament

Sui and Tang DynastiesGilt silver

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Silver and glass hairpin, sui and tang dynasties, 25.1 cm long.

Zan (hairpin)

Hairpin

Sui and Tang DynastiesSilver inlaid with glass

The Metropolitan Museum of Art