This gold goblet was excavated in the Shanxi Province in the 1970's. It has a out stretched edge with a circle stand. On the body there are four flower shaped decoration made from gold wires. Close to the bore edge and the bottom there are another two cloud shaped gold wire decorations. There use to be some gem stones attached on the flowers, but now they had all fallen.

This goblet could have been used as either a wine container or a tea cup. Many of this type of goblet also have a "6" shaped handle.

In the Tang Dynasty (618-906 A.D.), the whole empire was open minded to the western culture, therefore there was a mosaic culture style in China. The decoration was also affected by the foreign arts. It was usually designed as birds, flowers, animals, people and daily lives. On this goblet the craftsman used an abstract, decorative flower-pattern.

There was also a big progression of the metal welding process. On this goblet the welding material is powder of tin, copper, silver and rosin.

Cai Xiang, a scholar and famous calligrapher in the Song Dynasty (960-1127 A.D.), had the book "The Record of the Tea". He reckoned that gold was the top material for tea containers. Of course this was only for the noble social class at that time.
 

Background Knowledge: History of China

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