Spanish Colonial Silver Bowl (Olla)
Spanish Colonial Silver Two-Handled Bowl (Olla)
Colonial South America, probably Bolivia
18th century
width: 25cm, height: 12.5cm, weight: 713g
This globular bowl (olla) of beaten, high-grade, solid silver sits on a flattened base. It rises to a thin, everted rim. Two side handles with engraved edges are to either side.
The base is engraved with the initials ‘I.C.R.’, these being ownership marks. It is not unusual to see the marks of the owner on Spanish colonial silverware from South America. One reason for this is that as households with extended family members changed and formed, individuals wanted to be clear as to who owned what for the sake of inheritance.
A similar example is illustrated in Taullard (2004, ill. 113) and in Luis Ribera & Schenone (1981, p. 272). Both these published examples are attributed to Bolivia.
The size and the purity of the silver make this item particularly decorative. It is in excellent condition, and is heavy for its size.
References
Luis Ribera, A., & H.H. Schenone, Plateria Sudamericana de los Siglos XVII-XX, Hirmer Verlag Muchen, 1981.
Taullard, A.,
Plateria Sudemericana, Ediciones Espeula de Plata, 2004.
Provenance
European private collection
Inventory no.: 1681
SOLD
