Silver wine cup with parcel gilding

While vessels with Hellenistic, Bactrian, and Sasanian designs have been excavated from third-century Chinese tombs and Sogdian gilt silver has been found in tombs dating to the sixth century, the foreign influence on metalwork became deeper and more widespread in the Tang dynasty. The increased use of precious metals among the aristocracy itself was a custom adapted from kingdoms to the west. During this time, Persian craftsmen may have settled in Chang'an or other metropolises and taught their skills directly to Chinese craftsmen. It was the novel shapes and designs of Sogdian silver, though, that most powerfully influenced Tang metalwork and even ceramics.