ANTIQUE 19thC CHINESE EXPORT SOLID SILVER DRAGON BOWL, LUEN WO c.1890
19th Century Chinese silver decorative dragon bowl, of round form on a dome shaped foot. The body repoussé decorated with blooming cherry tree branches, dense bamboo and flitted bands, each side with leaf capped cartouches, one engraved with very elaborate initials (HAM). The scalloped and pierced rim decorated with a chased chrysanthemum design, the shoulders flanked by two large dragon shaped handles.
Hallmarked with Chinese artisan character marks and retailers mark LUEN-WO.
Reference Number: A7240
DESCRIPTION
Antique late-19th Century Chinese solid silver decorative dragon bowl, of round form on a dome shaped foot. The body repoussé decorated with blooming cherry tree branches, dense bamboo and flitted bands, each side with leaf capped cartouches, one engraved with very elaborate initials (HAM). The scalloped and pierced rim decorated with a chased chrysanthemum design, the shoulders flanked by two large dragon shaped handles. The bowl is particularly large, heavy and very well crafted, by one of the most rare and outstanding Chinese silversmiths & retailers.
The base hallmarked with Chinese artisan character marks and retailers mark LUEN-WO, SHANGHAI.
Luen Wo was a very important retail silversmith based in Shanghai, he also traded in jewellery, diamonds and embroideries. His artworks show a very high quality that only equals the standards of Wang Hing, in Canton.
Luen Wo was very productive and relied on a large number of designers and artisans, such as Ning Zhao Ji. His items generally bear the mark with his full name or the initials LW and the mark of the artisan who realised the piece.
The firm mainly produced items in the traditional Chinese style, featuring classical motifs such as bamboo leaves, prunus blossoms, chrysanthemums and dragons but, especially after 1880, he is recorded as having also made Peranakan-style items.
CONDITION
In Great Condition - No Damage.
SIZE
Height: 19cm
Width: 42cm
Depth: 26cm
Weight: 1610g