Chinese Pewter Banqueting Fish-form Covered Dish

This pewter covered dish in the form of a fish, probably a carp, would have been used at Chinese banquets most probably in the home of a wealthy official. It comprises, the base, the cover and an internal tray. Hot water would have been poured into the base, to keep a cooked fish warm, and the fish would have rested on the internal tray. The cover would have allowed the heat to be trapped in.

The cover and base have been etched with scale and flower motifs. A dark blue glass cabochon serves as the fish’s ‘eye’. The base has two handles on each side, and rests on several curved feet. There is some age and use-related crustation to the base.

A related pewter banqueting dish in the National Museum of Ireland is illustrated in Whitty (2011, p. 90.) This dish has similar capacity to hold hot water to keep prepared food warm on the banqueting table.

The example here is in fine condition and has obvious age. Banqueting dishes such as this example are rarely encountered.