Chinese Export Silver Shaving Set

Silver Gentleman’s Shaving Bowl & Brush made for the Export Market

This shaving bowl and brush is an unusual form when it comes to Chinese export silver. No shaving sets have been published in the main works on Chinese export silver.

The bowl has three low feet, and a crescent-shaped, raised cover that is pieced with dozens of small star-shaped apertures. The exterior of the bowl is decorated in relief with an elaborate, applied silver dragon that wraps around more than half the bowl.

The brush has a thick shaft of silver which similarly is decorated with an applied dragon which wraps around the entire shaft.

The brush is finished with natural animal hair bristles.

The base of the bowl and end of the brush are not stamped with a maker’s or retailer’s mark but are stamped with 銀製 (Yin Zhi – ‘Made of Silver’).

Both the bowl and brush are in excellent condition and are without dents of repairs. The silver is particularly high grade.

Forbes, H.A.C. et al, Chinese Export Silver 1785-1885, Museum of the American China Trade, 1975.

UK art market