ANTIQUE 19thC CHINESE EXPORT SOLID SILVER WINE EWER, WOSHING c.1890
Antique 19th Century Chinese Export solid silver wine ewer of exceptional quality. Of baluster form, the piece showcases a remarkable combination of traditional Chinese silverwork techniques and decorative styles. The domed circular base is chased with stylised acanthus leaves, while the rounded body features a series of hexagonal medallions, each depicting motifs such as blossom trees, bamboo, noble scenes and dragons. Engraved bamboo leaves adorn both the body and the stem. The hinged lid is surmounted by a bamboo stalk finial, complemented by a curved handle modelled as a bamboo cane.
The base is hallmarked Chinese silver (900+ silver standard), Maker's mark WS (Woshing).
Reference Number: A00014
Antique 19th Century Chinese Export solid silver wine ewer of exceptional quality. Of baluster form, the piece showcases a remarkable combination of traditional Chinese silverwork techniques and decorative styles. The domed circular base is chased with stylised acanthus leaves, while the rounded body features a series of hexagonal medallions, each depicting motifs such as blossom trees, bamboo, noble scenes and dragons. Engraved bamboo leaves adorn both the body and the stem. The hinged lid is surmounted by a bamboo stalk finial, complemented by a curved handle modelled as a bamboo cane.
The base is hallmarked Chinese silver (900+ silver standard), Maker's mark WS (Woshing).
Reference Number: A00014
Antique 19th Century Chinese Export solid silver wine ewer of exceptional quality. Of baluster form, the piece showcases a remarkable combination of traditional Chinese silverwork techniques and decorative styles. The domed circular base is chased with stylised acanthus leaves, while the rounded body features a series of hexagonal medallions, each depicting motifs such as blossom trees, bamboo, noble scenes and dragons. Engraved bamboo leaves adorn both the body and the stem. The hinged lid is surmounted by a bamboo stalk finial, complemented by a curved handle modelled as a bamboo cane.
The base is hallmarked Chinese silver (900+ silver standard), Maker's mark WS (Woshing).
Reference Number: A00014
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Woshing silver is excellently crafted and was made in most of the patterns popular in the export market, such as bamboo, dragons, cranes, floral motifs. Apart from high-quality silverware, the firm was also famous for retailing luxury items in carved ivory, jade, gold and specialised in trophies and celebration silver.
Alongside with traditionally decorated silver tableware and flatware, of particular interest were pieces with creative and unconventional decors and forms. Bowls, tazzas, boxes in the modified Neo-classical manner were intricately crafted with realistically modelled birds, frogs and other animals in high relief. Such Woshing works are considered to be one of the most unusual among the Chinese export silver.
Although the full list of artisans working for the firm is impossible to make, it is well known that numerous Woshing silver pieces with outstanding enamels were created in cooperation with the respected silversmith Huang Qiu Ji.
According to the scholar Adrien Von Ferscht, the firm was on top four of the most notable Chinese retail silversmiths in the 19th century alongside Wong Hing, Poh Hing and Chong Woo.
CONDITION
In Great Condition - Wear expected with age. Please refer to photographs.
SIZE
Height: 24.5 cm // 9.65 inches
Width: 12 cm // 4.72 inches
Depth: 10 cm // 3.94 inches
Weight: 403 grams // 12.96 ozt