ANTIQUE 19thC RARE STRAITS CHINESE SOLID SILVER BOWL & COVER c.1880
19th Century Straits Chinese Silver bowl and cover, of typical rounded form, finely engraved with eight panels depicting fruiting and flowering trees with birds, animals and buildings, on a plain moulded foot, the matching double domed cover is surmounted by a bud finial.
Hallmarked (which is rare for such pieces), but it hasn't been possible to compare and identify the marks.
REFERENCE NUMBER: A2253
Description
Antique 19th Century extremely rare Straits Chinese Solid Silver bowl and cover, of typical rounded form, finely engraved with eight panels depicting fruiting and flowering trees with birds, animals and buildings, on a plain moulded foot, the matching double domed cover is surmounted by a bud finial.
The bowl appears to be Straits Chinese (Chinese communities living the Indonesian archipelago and British Malaya), and the style closely reminds the Straits Chinese pieces published in: Ho Wing Meng, "Straits Chinese Silver. A collector guide", 1984 ed. 2004, pp.146-159, figg. 117-119; in particular fig. 127, objects made in the Malacca peninsula by a Chinese silversmith and hallmarked "Ching Fu".
Both base and cover are Hallmarked (which is rare for such pieces), but it hasn't been possible to compare and identify the marks. Straits Chinese silver is extremely rare and sought after, and a bowl and cover featuring a similar design recently sold in auction for £6500. This particular bowl dates to the 1860-90's.
Condition
In Great Condition - No damage, just general wear.
Size
Height: 15cm
Width: 17.5cm
Weight: 720g