{"id":8649341763734,"title":"A Pair of 19th-century Chinese Export silver and hardwood chamber candlesticks.","handle":"a-charming-pair-of-19th-century-chinese-export-silver-and-hardwood-chamber-candlesticks","description":"\u003cp\u003eA charming pair of \u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE;\"\u003e19\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e century Chinese Export silver and hardwood chamber candlesticks.\u003cbr\u003eDesigned as columns with restrained chased and repoussé decoration composed of a series\u003cbr\u003eof friezes of trailing flowers demarcated into five registers. The base plate of silver similarly\u003cbr\u003edecorated with stylised bamboo and attached to a carved hardwood pedestal base.\u003cbr\u003eThe form of these candlesticks is reminiscent of monumental Chinese architecture,\u003cbr\u003eparticularly carved stone columns. These are particularly associated with the Ming period\u003cbr\u003eand decorate buildings as well as gardens and the complex of tombs built outside Beijing.\u003cbr\u003eThese columns are often similarly decorated with friezes in registers, some depict the\u003cbr\u003eheavens usually with an entwined dragon but also with vegetal decorations like those on\u003cbr\u003ethese candlesticks.\u003cbr\u003eChinese art is often imbued with deep symbolism. The plant kingdom is a primary source\u003cbr\u003efor much of this and plants have an important role within Chinese culture in general.\u003cbr\u003eThe bamboo depicted on the base is an especially important part of Chinese culture, on a\u003cbr\u003epractical level bamboo was used extensively in many aspects of Chinese life. Symbolically it\u003cbr\u003erepresents purity, modesty, restraint and integrity and is one of the four noble plants in\u003cbr\u003eChinese culture.\u003cbr\u003eThe theme of the noble plant is continued on the column. The registers have three friezes\u003cbr\u003edepicting plum blossom, the most popular plant in Chinese art and serves as a metaphor for an indomitable spirit of inner beauty and modesty in adversity. In folk culture, the five petals of the plum blossom represent the five blessings: Fu (福 happiness; good luck), Lu (禄fortune; salary), Shou (寿 longevity), Xi (喜 joy) and Cai (财 wealth).\u003cbr\u003eThe next flower is the chrysanthemum, symbolic of longevity and wealth, and a wish for a\u003cbr\u003epeaceful retirement. Since ancient times, the chrysanthemum has been deeply cherished by\u003cbr\u003eChinese scholars and known as the ‘Hermit of All Flowers’. This is largely due to the\u003cbr\u003eassociation with the foremost of the Recluse Poets, Tao Yuanming (陶渊明, CE 365-327),\u003cbr\u003ethe pioneer of the so-called ‘Fields and Gardens’ poetry. \u003cbr\u003eFinally, the top register has a frieze of stylised hanging fruit. There are several possibilities\u003cbr\u003eas to which fruit is intended, the most likely, given the preponderance of plum blossom is that\u003cbr\u003ethis is the fruit represented. Traditionally, the plum fruit symbolizes strength, endurance, hope and perseverance.\u003cbr\u003eThe traditional wooden base is carved with lotus blossom and cartouches, the lotus\u003cbr\u003erepresenting purity, beauty and spiritual enlightenment.\u003cbr\u003eCombining elements from traditional Chinese art with their associated symbolism, these candlesticks would have appealed to the growing Western taste in oriental works of art and highlighted the quality of Chinese artisans working on items destined for export.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLength: 7 cm  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWidth: 7 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHeight: 12.5 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTotal Weight: 583 grams\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2026-04-28T14:54:55+01:00","created_at":"2026-04-28T14:54:54+01:00","vendor":"Joseph Cohen Antiques","type":"","tags":["Chinese Export Silver"],"price":125000,"price_min":125000,"price_max":125000,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":46364553674902,"title":"Default Title","option1":"Default Title","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"JC-07219","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":true,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"A Pair of 19th-century Chinese Export silver and hardwood chamber candlesticks.","public_title":null,"options":["Default Title"],"price":125000,"weight":0,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[],"quantity_rule":{"min":1,"max":null,"increment":1}}],"images":["\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/Candles1.jpg?v=1777470561","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/Indian_candle.jpg?v=1777625995"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/Candles1.jpg?v=1777470561","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":32622910439574,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.28,"height":1875,"width":2400,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/Candles1.jpg?v=1777470561"},"aspect_ratio":1.28,"height":1875,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/Candles1.jpg?v=1777470561","width":2400},{"alt":null,"id":32627698499734,"position":2,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.174,"height":2044,"width":2400,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/Indian_candle.jpg?v=1777625995"},"aspect_ratio":1.174,"height":2044,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/Indian_candle.jpg?v=1777625995","width":2400}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eA charming pair of \u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE;\"\u003e19\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e century Chinese Export silver and hardwood chamber candlesticks.\u003cbr\u003eDesigned as columns with restrained chased and repoussé decoration composed of a series\u003cbr\u003eof friezes of trailing flowers demarcated into five registers. The base plate of silver similarly\u003cbr\u003edecorated with stylised bamboo and attached to a carved hardwood pedestal base.\u003cbr\u003eThe form of these candlesticks is reminiscent of monumental Chinese architecture,\u003cbr\u003eparticularly carved stone columns. These are particularly associated with the Ming period\u003cbr\u003eand decorate buildings as well as gardens and the complex of tombs built outside Beijing.\u003cbr\u003eThese columns are often similarly decorated with friezes in registers, some depict the\u003cbr\u003eheavens usually with an entwined dragon but also with vegetal decorations like those on\u003cbr\u003ethese candlesticks.\u003cbr\u003eChinese art is often imbued with deep symbolism. The plant kingdom is a primary source\u003cbr\u003efor much of this and plants have an important role within Chinese culture in general.\u003cbr\u003eThe bamboo depicted on the base is an especially important part of Chinese culture, on a\u003cbr\u003epractical level bamboo was used extensively in many aspects of Chinese life. Symbolically it\u003cbr\u003erepresents purity, modesty, restraint and integrity and is one of the four noble plants in\u003cbr\u003eChinese culture.\u003cbr\u003eThe theme of the noble plant is continued on the column. The registers have three friezes\u003cbr\u003edepicting plum blossom, the most popular plant in Chinese art and serves as a metaphor for an indomitable spirit of inner beauty and modesty in adversity. In folk culture, the five petals of the plum blossom represent the five blessings: Fu (福 happiness; good luck), Lu (禄fortune; salary), Shou (寿 longevity), Xi (喜 joy) and Cai (财 wealth).\u003cbr\u003eThe next flower is the chrysanthemum, symbolic of longevity and wealth, and a wish for a\u003cbr\u003epeaceful retirement. Since ancient times, the chrysanthemum has been deeply cherished by\u003cbr\u003eChinese scholars and known as the ‘Hermit of All Flowers’. This is largely due to the\u003cbr\u003eassociation with the foremost of the Recluse Poets, Tao Yuanming (陶渊明, CE 365-327),\u003cbr\u003ethe pioneer of the so-called ‘Fields and Gardens’ poetry. \u003cbr\u003eFinally, the top register has a frieze of stylised hanging fruit. There are several possibilities\u003cbr\u003eas to which fruit is intended, the most likely, given the preponderance of plum blossom is that\u003cbr\u003ethis is the fruit represented. Traditionally, the plum fruit symbolizes strength, endurance, hope and perseverance.\u003cbr\u003eThe traditional wooden base is carved with lotus blossom and cartouches, the lotus\u003cbr\u003erepresenting purity, beauty and spiritual enlightenment.\u003cbr\u003eCombining elements from traditional Chinese art with their associated symbolism, these candlesticks would have appealed to the growing Western taste in oriental works of art and highlighted the quality of Chinese artisans working on items destined for export.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLength: 7 cm  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWidth: 7 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHeight: 12.5 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTotal Weight: 583 grams\u003c\/p\u003e"}