{"id":5592476844182,"title":"Antique Chinese Silver Parcel Gilt Wine Ewer, Rare Item, China – 17th\/18th Century","handle":"antique-chinese-silver-parcel-gilt-wine-ewer-rare-item-china-17th-18th-century-1","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis antique Chinese silver and parcel gilt wine ewer is a fine example of these very high status and highly sought after vessels, which have a long history in Chinese society but rarely appear in the marketplace today. There are no obvious maker’s marks, which is often the case, but it is believed to date to the late 17th or early 18th century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese elegant and stylish vessels are well documented and represented in several notable museum and private collections.  Adrien von Ferscht wrote, ‘Chinese silver and silver-gilt ewers find their roots as far back as the Tang and Sung dynasties when Sogdian and Sassanian silver ewers were introduced to China by way of Silk Road traders and silversmiths.  By the late Sung dynasty a recognisable “Chinese style” had evolved and by the late 17\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ecentury, wine ewers had evolved further into a shape and style that stayed a mainstream item in the Chinese silver repertoire until the late 19\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ecentury.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA wine ewer with similar handle, cover and panels to the body from the K L Leung collection of export art featured in an exhibition at the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, entitled ‘The Silver Age, Origins and Trade of Chinese Export Silver’.  Another example with similar handle, cover and panels, was presented to Louis XIV by the Ambassadors of Siam in 1686 and recently acquired by the Palace of Versailles, France, where it is now housed.  The French Minister of Culture declared it to be a National Treasure!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe ewer stands on a deep and flared pedestal floriform foot with a scalloped edge at the base.   The shape of the foot resembles a plum blossom flower turned face down.  This theme is referenced throughout the design, particularly in the naturalistic plum blossom finial to the cover and the branch-like crabstock handle, with its bark chasing and applied gnarled gilt protrusions.  To the back of the handle is the figure of a lizard. To the opposite side, the long sinuous plain silver spout provides a quiet contrast.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lift-off cover is domed with six defined segments. Each segment has a panel of ring punch ornamentation topped by a small motif highlighted in gilt. The lifter for the cover is delightful, taking the form of a naturalistically modelled sprig of plum blossom with open flowers and buds.  The scalloped protruding flat flanged rim to the cover extends beyond the line of the neck and has been ornamented with a chased repeating border with ancient Taoist roots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe neck of the vessel is also of scalloped or floriform shape.  To the top is a repeating geometric chased border.  A naturalistic and finely chased floral and foliate sprig or spray of foliage with gilt highlights ornaments each scallop.  Each design is individual and set against a plain silver background.  The point at which the neck of the vessel joins the body has a thick raised border of plain silver which snakes around the scalloped shape and emphasises the flower shape, at the same time creating balance with the protruding flange to the cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo the top of the body is a gently sloping area which has been ornamented with a repeating Chrysanthemum leaf border.  Executed with a light touch, the large leaves have a deckled edge and some subtle detailing.  The leaf border runs between the indentations with ring punched ground which interrupts the flow of the border, resulting in a short row of leaves, repeated again and again.   The overall effect is a delicate and pleasing airy tracery. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe body of the ewer has six repousse and chased panels and a gently scalloped form.  The ground of the indentations between the panels has been finely ring punched, enhancing the perception of depth, delineating the individual flutes and providing textural contrast between adjacent surfaces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe scenic panels to the body are surrounded by simple raised linear borders with canted corners which frame the scenes very effectively.  Each panel contains a charming topographical scene, depicting the countryside in a natural style with buildings, geographical features, animals, birds, plants, trees, flowers and auspicious real and mythical creatures such as the bat and the Chinese phoenix, or\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003efenghuang.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eProvenance:-\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e European Art Market\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDimensions:- \u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eHeight 18.5 cms; Width 19 cms\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWeight:- \u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e         428 grammes\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReferences:-\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdrien von Ferscht, chinese-export-silver.com\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHong Kong Maritime Museum, Exhibition catalogue, ‘The Silver Age, Origins and Trade of Chinese Export Silver’ Edited by Libby Lai-Pik Chan and Nina Lai-Na Wan, Hong Kong 2017-18\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Collection of the Palace Museum, Versailles, France\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2020-08-10T00:21:37+01:00","created_at":"2020-08-10T00:21:36+01:00","vendor":"Joseph Cohen Antiques","type":"Wine Ewer","tags":["Sold Archive"],"price":0,"price_min":0,"price_max":0,"available":false,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":35689732997270,"title":"Default Title","option1":"Default Title","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"JC-WINE-06945","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":true,"featured_image":null,"available":false,"name":"Antique Chinese Silver Parcel Gilt Wine Ewer, Rare Item, China – 17th\/18th Century","public_title":null,"options":["Default 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antique Chinese silver and parcel gilt wine ewer is a fine example of these very high status and highly sought after vessels, which have a long history in Chinese society but rarely appear in the marketplace today. There are no obvious maker’s marks, which is often the case, but it is believed to date to the late 17th or early 18th century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese elegant and stylish vessels are well documented and represented in several notable museum and private collections.  Adrien von Ferscht wrote, ‘Chinese silver and silver-gilt ewers find their roots as far back as the Tang and Sung dynasties when Sogdian and Sassanian silver ewers were introduced to China by way of Silk Road traders and silversmiths.  By the late Sung dynasty a recognisable “Chinese style” had evolved and by the late 17\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ecentury, wine ewers had evolved further into a shape and style that stayed a mainstream item in the Chinese silver repertoire until the late 19\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ecentury.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA wine ewer with similar handle, cover and panels to the body from the K L Leung collection of export art featured in an exhibition at the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, entitled ‘The Silver Age, Origins and Trade of Chinese Export Silver’.  Another example with similar handle, cover and panels, was presented to Louis XIV by the Ambassadors of Siam in 1686 and recently acquired by the Palace of Versailles, France, where it is now housed.  The French Minister of Culture declared it to be a National Treasure!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe ewer stands on a deep and flared pedestal floriform foot with a scalloped edge at the base.   The shape of the foot resembles a plum blossom flower turned face down.  This theme is referenced throughout the design, particularly in the naturalistic plum blossom finial to the cover and the branch-like crabstock handle, with its bark chasing and applied gnarled gilt protrusions.  To the back of the handle is the figure of a lizard. To the opposite side, the long sinuous plain silver spout provides a quiet contrast.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lift-off cover is domed with six defined segments. Each segment has a panel of ring punch ornamentation topped by a small motif highlighted in gilt. The lifter for the cover is delightful, taking the form of a naturalistically modelled sprig of plum blossom with open flowers and buds.  The scalloped protruding flat flanged rim to the cover extends beyond the line of the neck and has been ornamented with a chased repeating border with ancient Taoist roots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe neck of the vessel is also of scalloped or floriform shape.  To the top is a repeating geometric chased border.  A naturalistic and finely chased floral and foliate sprig or spray of foliage with gilt highlights ornaments each scallop.  Each design is individual and set against a plain silver background.  The point at which the neck of the vessel joins the body has a thick raised border of plain silver which snakes around the scalloped shape and emphasises the flower shape, at the same time creating balance with the protruding flange to the cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo the top of the body is a gently sloping area which has been ornamented with a repeating Chrysanthemum leaf border.  Executed with a light touch, the large leaves have a deckled edge and some subtle detailing.  The leaf border runs between the indentations with ring punched ground which interrupts the flow of the border, resulting in a short row of leaves, repeated again and again.   The overall effect is a delicate and pleasing airy tracery. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe body of the ewer has six repousse and chased panels and a gently scalloped form.  The ground of the indentations between the panels has been finely ring punched, enhancing the perception of depth, delineating the individual flutes and providing textural contrast between adjacent surfaces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe scenic panels to the body are surrounded by simple raised linear borders with canted corners which frame the scenes very effectively.  Each panel contains a charming topographical scene, depicting the countryside in a natural style with buildings, geographical features, animals, birds, plants, trees, flowers and auspicious real and mythical creatures such as the bat and the Chinese phoenix, or\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003efenghuang.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eProvenance:-\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e European Art Market\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDimensions:- \u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eHeight 18.5 cms; Width 19 cms\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWeight:- \u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e         428 grammes\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReferences:-\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdrien von Ferscht, chinese-export-silver.com\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHong Kong Maritime Museum, Exhibition catalogue, ‘The Silver Age, Origins and Trade of Chinese Export Silver’ Edited by Libby Lai-Pik Chan and Nina Lai-Na Wan, Hong Kong 2017-18\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Collection of the Palace Museum, Versailles, France\u003c\/p\u003e"}