The shapes and ornament of the objects in this case appear Near Eastern or Greco-Roman in character. They were produced during the Tang Dynasty, an imperial age with an extremely cosmopolitan culture. Numerous traders from Central Asia and beyond traveled to Ch’ang-an, the Tang Dynasty capital. Many cultures and religions co-existed peacefully in the city. In fact, the entire Sassanian court, which had been overrun by Islamic crusaders, moved there from Persia in the seventh century, to find safety. They brought with them a number of their artisans, including silversmiths. Sassanian forms and motifs became a part of the repertoire of silver vessels that were already being developed in China, resulting in an explosion of new decorative forms.

The leaf-shaped dish at the front is made of cast silver and decorated with floral scrolls that enclose birds—a Tang-dynasty variation of a late Roman motif. The bowl to its right bears a recumbent deer, a central Asian image. It is hammered and chased rather than cast, and parcel gilding highlights the naturalistic décor.