Enquiry about object: 6398
Javanese Chased Silver Spittoon
Java, Indonesia, probably Peranakan circa 1920
height: 10.3cm, diameter: 10.4cm, weight: 198g
Provenance
private collection, UK; acquired by the previous owner's family in Indonesia in the first half of the 20th century.
This pleasing vase, or more probably spittoon, is of solid silver and dates to the 1920s Java in the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia today). It was most probably made for a peranakan (localised Javanese-Chinese) client.
It sits on a low, plain, flat foot. The squat, spherical body has been chased in relief with three sprays of different flowers against a finely tooled background. The shoulder has a row of stylised cloud-petal motifs and an engraved key-fret border.
The neck is engraved with foliate scrolling.
The wide rim is finely engraved with more sprays of leaves against a tooled background.
There are no maker’s marks. The vessel shows clear Chinese influence and almost certainly was made in central Java by a localised Chinese silversmith making items for local clients.
The vase is in excellent condition.
References
Kal, P.W.H., Yogya Silver: Renewal of a Javanese Handicraft, KIT Publishers, 2005.
