Belt ornament with animal and bird designs, one of seven

Luxury Metals of the Tang Dynasty

Glittering gold and silver objects made by cultures in the West fascinated the Chinese and were among the many goods traded over the Silk Road. By the late 500s China had regular contact with the Sasanian empire in Persia (226–642 CE), which had sophisticated traditions in metal, glass, and textiles. Some members of the Sasanian court fled to China following the fall of the Sasanian empire; apparently they brought artisans with them. The Sasanians’ influence is clearly reflected in the appearance of and techniques employed in the objects on display in this case. (For more on this culture, see Gallery 7, the Persian World and West Asia.)