Silver Sachet with Pattern of Swan Geese

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This sachet, with ingenious idea and excellent craftsmanship, is unearthed in Famen Temple Under ground Palace , Xi’an , Shaanxi. It is a masterpiece of gold and silver craftworks of the Tang Dynasty. Its outer wall is engraved with circle and arc equilateral triangles, as well as patterns of fish, flowers and leaves. Due to theme pattern of four Swan Geese, Silver Sachet with Pattern of Swan Geese is named after. At that time, Famen Temple also see the unearthed a large Silver Sachet with Pattern of Two Bees and Flowers. Both artworks feature openwork, gold-inlaid decoration and the same inner and outer structures and decorative means. With spherical appearance, they consist of upper and lower symmetrical hemispheres. Two symmetrical hemispheres are buckled with twin mouth. One side is connected with the hinge, and the other side is connected to the hook ring, with symmetric decoration. The lower hemisphere of sachet contains two concentric rings. In the ring, there is a small incense holder.

Sachet

Sachet was ornament worn by women in the Tang Dynasty. In ancient times, perfume was not developed. People’s demand for fragrance was almost completely dependent on incense. The slowly-discharged incense was inconvenient for carrying, so people of the Tang Dynasty designed and manufactured sachet. Outer wall of sachet was often carved with refifi ned patterns of birds, grapes and others, in which a small incense holder was placed. So the wearer could move around, and radiate the aroma.

Why does ash never fall?

This is attributed to the balancing device within sachet. In sachet, two concentric rings and between the inner ring and incense holder are riveted with symmetrical live axle. Therefore, when circular sachet rolls, inner and outer rings also rotate, and incense holder center can be always in central axis of the sachet so that incense holder surface keeps balance state rather than incline or invert.

Mystery of sachet

Ancient literature often mentions “sachet of the Tang Dynasty”, which is different from today’s “incense bag”. The latter is sewed with completely natural silk fabric and wrapped with solid perfume inside. According to historical records, in “An Lushan Rebellion”, when Emperor Xuan of the Tang Dynasty flfl ed to the south Sichuan, he was forced to order Imperial Concubine Yang to make suicide in Maweipo. After he returned to Chang’an, he missed Imperial Concubine Yang and ordered the eunuch Gao Lishi to bury her at another place. However, in the excavation, it was found that her skin decayed, but the sachet was still intact. What is the reason for immortality of the sachet of the Tang Dynasty? What is it like? Modern people fail to get insight into these secrets. Until Famen Temple Underground Palace is found, the unearthed silver sachet reveals these secrets.