Inventory no.: 956

Silver Rosewater Sprinkler, China Trade Silver

SOLD

Silver Rosewater Sprinkler

China

circa 1820

height: 32.8cm, weight: 513g

This absolutely superb silver water sprinkler is from China and dates to around 1820 during the China Trade period. The style is typically Georgian of that period with fluting to the base and stem.

The item is very well crafted and the silver that has been used is extraordinarily thick – so much so that the sprinkler weighs more than half a kilogram. As such it is surprisingly heavy in the hand, particularly given its size.

The fluting on the piece is reminiscent of work on various early nineteenth century China Trade pieces illustrated in Forbes (1975).

The condition is perfect – there are no splits or dents. This is a very high quality object and a fine and relatively rare example of early colonial silversmithing wok from China. The piece does not have assay marks or a maker’s mark in common with the earlier examples of China Trade silver.

References

Forbes, H.A.C. et al, Chinese Export Silver 1785-1885, Museum of the American China Trade, 1975; and Chinese Export Silver: The Chan Collection, published in conjunction with the Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore, 2005.

Provenance

UK art market.

Inventory no.: 956

SOLD