Tortoise and Oyster for Tang

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

On April 8 in Hong Kong, Sotheby's will sell a special object, which has spent the centuries without yielding to the ravages of time and is an invaluable testimony (culturally speaking) of ancient luxury in the Tang dynasty. Financially, however, we can estimate: Sotheby's hopes it in excess of 40 MHK $.

It is a large octagonal box with its cover, in tortoise-shell inlaid with mother of pearl. These materials rare and valuable at that time form contrasting patterns, geometric and floral, extremely elegant. It measures 38 cm wide and about 9 cm high including the cover.

Dating from the mid-Tang period, 1,250 years ago, it has certainly been preserved as a treasure, perhaps in the Shōsōin which is the Imperial Japanese repository in Nara. It took no less to preserve it from predators, especially insects that are major fans of nacre.

It appears that no object of this type and quality had been made previously available on the art market.

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

Unsold. Often an unpublished estimate hides a very high reserve price. It has possibly been the case for this really exceptional object.