{"id":8441351831702,"title":"Vietnamese (French Cochinchina) Four Piece Solid Silver Tea Set, 19th century","handle":"vietnamese-french-cochinchina-four-piece-solid-silver-tea-set-19th-century","description":"\u003cp\u003eVietnamese (French Cochinchina) Four Piece Solid Silver Tea Set, 19th century\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis beautiful Vietnamese tea set, inscribed on the tray with L.D., is estimated to have been part of the Lieutenant Governor of French Cochinchina’s collection. This appears to coincide with Alexandre Antoine Etienne Gustve Ducos’ (1851-1907) time in the post. Ducos was Lieutenant Governor twice, first in 18th of July 1895 to 22nd of March 1896 and 19th of November 1896 to 9th of May 1897.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 2 ‘L’ indicates ‘Lieutenant’ while ‘D’ is estimated to refer to ‘Ducos’.\u003cbr\u003eThis solid silver set consists of four pieces; a tea pot, milk jug, sugar bowl and tray. Multiple representations of Buddhist figures and imagery decorate the objects, surrounded  by intricate patterns and floral motifs. Buddhist art is characterised by elaborate combinations of divinities, creatures and objects, the complex tapestry of Buddhist legend and wisdom often encompassed in one artwork.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3 The figures represented on the tea set include bodhisattvas (enlightened beings. This term was often used in reference to the Buddha himself prior to when he achieved enlightenment. ‘Sattva’ means being intent on achieving while ‘Bodhi’ translates as enlightenment).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4 The multiple armed bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, known in Vietnam as Quán The Âm or Quan Âm, is one of the figures represented along the border of the tray. Initially always a male figure, in many cultures Avalokiteśvara was later also represented as female. Quán Âm is the Bodhisattva of Infinite Compassion, known to appear after recitation to anyone in distress. Representations of Avalokiteśvara are known to have two, four, six, eight, eighteen or more arms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5 Avalokiteśvara was one of the most popular represented figures, typically portrayed with multiple limbs, wearing a headdress\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6 and sitting on a lotus flower. This is how Quán Âm is shown on the border of this tray, surrounded by a floral shape. This bodhisattva is one of four figures represented on the border of the tray.\u003cbr\u003eOther comparable figures are depicted on the tray, tea pot and milk jug. The sugar bowl is\u003cbr\u003edecorated with elaborate patterns inspired by flora, but does not include humans, animals or supernatural creatures. Incised on the flat surface of the tray is a depiction of a bodhisattva riding\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e 6 Robert E. Buswell Jr, ed.by, Encyclopedia of Buddhism, Volume One A-L, (New York, NY: Macmillan Reference USA, 2004) p. 61.\u003cbr\u003e5 Tan Pham, Volume 3b of A Traveller’s Story of Vietnam’s Past, From the 10th to the 13th Centuries, Dai Viet and Champa: Panduranga, Kauthara, and Indrapura (New Zealand: 315Kio Publishing, 2024), p. 85. 4 Robert E. Buswell Jr \u0026amp; Donald S. Lopez Jr, The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhisim, “Bodhisattva”,\u0026lt;https:\/\/giaolykalama.com\/library\/English\/The%20Princeton%20dictionary%20of%20Buddhism%20(Lopez).pdf\u0026gt; [accessed 9th June 2025].\u003cbr\u003e3 Robert E. Fischer, Buddhist Art and Architecture, (London: Thames \u0026amp; Hudson, 1993), p.11. 2 ‘Vietnam’, World Statesman, [accessed 28 May 2025] \u0026lt;https:\/\/www.worldstatesmen.org\/Vietnam.html\u0026gt;.\u003cbr\u003e1 ‘List of administrators of the French colony of Cochinchina’, Wikipedia, [accessed 28 May 2025]\u0026lt;https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_administrators_of_the_French_colony_of_Cochinchina \u0026gt;. a horse with a whip aloft. This figure alludes to Crown Prince Siddhartha,7 who later became Gautama Buddah,8 with his horse Kanthaka.9 On the other section of the tray’s surface is a depiction of Māra (Vietnamese: Thiên Ma) and the elephant Girimekhala. Māra is the Buddhist symbol of evil, the personification of death who continuously endeavours and fails to thwart the Buddah’s obtaining of enlightenment. One of Māra’s most well-known attempts was when Māra fought the Buddah with an army of demons.10 This battle is reflected on the tray through the depiction of both the armed Siddahartha and the warmongering Māra on the tray. Although Buddhist literature suggests that Māra could be a plurality of entities,11 this image on the tray may also depict, in addition to Māra, generals of Māra’s army who were said to have ridden an elephant during battle.12 The elephant of Māra is known as Girimekhala. Māra is depicted on the tray riding Girimekhala and wielding daggers in his four arms, surrounded by soldiers of similar appearance. Comparable imagery in Buddhist art depicts Māra with lightening bolts as weapons instead of daggers.13\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe milk jug is similarly decorated with incised figures of Buddah, divinities, demons and\u003cbr\u003eattendants. Buddha is depicted in a serene pose, surrounded by swirling shapes with his hands resting atop his crossed legs. The position, closed eyes and hand gesture of Buddah on the jug correlates with Dhyana Mudra, a meditative pose.14 This pose and hand gesture is emblematic of a state of concentration, representing Prince Siddahartha’s final meditation before enlightenment as the Buddah.15\u003cbr\u003eThe spout of the teapot features the head of a serpent known as Nāga in Sanscrit and Pāli. These creatures inhabit underwater kingdoms and the roots of monumental trees, often with the intention to protect treasure. They are said to be under the command of Virupaksa, the god of the west and they guard the Traystrimsa Heaven. There are times when they appear in the audience\u003cbr\u003e15 ‘Dhyana Mudra’, Map Academy, \u0026lt;https:\/\/mapacademy.io\/article\/dhyana-mudra\/\u0026gt;, [accessed 9th June 2025].\u003cbr\u003e14 Ramesh Rohit, ‘An Analytical Study of Buddhist Art and Jain Art’, Dhammacakka, Journal of Buddhism and Applied Buddhism, Vol. 1, Issue 1, 49-55, (p.54).\u003cbr\u003e13 E, Hultzsch, ‘Jatakas at Bharaut’, The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, (1916) pp. 399-410 (p. 409).\u003cbr\u003e12 Stache-Rosen, p. 5.\u003cbr\u003e11 James W. Boyd, ‘Symbols of Evil in Buddhism’, The Journal of Asian Studies, Vol. 31, No. 1 (1971) pp. 63-75 (p.63.)\u003cbr\u003e10 Valentina Stache-Rosen, ‘The Temptation of the Buddha, Preliminary Comparision of some Chinese versions of an episode in the life of the Buddha’, Bulletin of Tibetology, Vol. 12, No. 1, (February 1975) pp.5 - 19. (p. 5.).\u003cbr\u003e9 Buswell Jr \u0026amp; Lopez Jr, “Kanthaka” \u0026lt;\u003cbr\u003ehttps:\/\/giaolykalama.com\/library\/English\/The%20Princeton%20dictionary%20of%20Buddhism%20(Lopez).pdf \u0026gt; [accessed 9th June 2025].\u003cbr\u003e8 Buswell Jr \u0026amp; Lopez Jr, “Gautama”\u003cbr\u003e\u0026lt;https:\/\/giaolykalama.com\/library\/English\/The%20Princeton%20dictionary%20of%20Buddhism%20(Lopez).pdf \u0026gt; [accessed 9th June 2025]\u003cbr\u003e7 Buswell Jr \u0026amp; Lopez Jr, “Siddhartha”\u003cbr\u003e\u0026lt;https:\/\/giaolykalama.com\/library\/English\/The%20Princeton%20dictionary%20of%20Buddhism%20(Lopez).pdf \u0026gt; [accessed 9th June 2025] of the Buddah, as detailed in the famous Lotus Sutra. A nāga may be benevolent or malevolent and there were instances where they served to protect or shelter the Buddah.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e16 This remarkable tea set, in addition to being expertly crafted and aesthetically beautiful, is a fascinating conveyance of Buddhist doctrine, myth and legend. The imagery, with knowledge of the iconography, could be read as a story, with each figure, detail and creature being emblematic of the extraordinary tales of the Buddah’s life and journey prior to enlightenment. In addition to it being an element of Vietnamese religious history, it also is a testament, with its inclusion in the collection of the Lieutenant General of Cochinchina, to the imprint of European colonialism and interest in Asian and Buddhist culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeasurements:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWidth: 51cm \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDepth: 27.5cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHeight: 25cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWeight: 3,761 grams\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2025-06-30T15:15:09+01:00","created_at":"2025-06-30T15:15:08+01:00","vendor":"Joseph Cohen Antiques","type":"Vietnamese (French Cochinchina) Four Piece Solid Silver Tea Set, 19th century","tags":["Thai Viet \u0026 Cambodian Silver"],"price":675000,"price_min":675000,"price_max":675000,"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":45163869077654,"title":"Default 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(French Cochinchina) Four Piece Solid Silver Tea Set, 19th century\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis beautiful Vietnamese tea set, inscribed on the tray with L.D., is estimated to have been part of the Lieutenant Governor of French Cochinchina’s collection. This appears to coincide with Alexandre Antoine Etienne Gustve Ducos’ (1851-1907) time in the post. Ducos was Lieutenant Governor twice, first in 18th of July 1895 to 22nd of March 1896 and 19th of November 1896 to 9th of May 1897.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 2 ‘L’ indicates ‘Lieutenant’ while ‘D’ is estimated to refer to ‘Ducos’.\u003cbr\u003eThis solid silver set consists of four pieces; a tea pot, milk jug, sugar bowl and tray. Multiple representations of Buddhist figures and imagery decorate the objects, surrounded  by intricate patterns and floral motifs. Buddhist art is characterised by elaborate combinations of divinities, creatures and objects, the complex tapestry of Buddhist legend and wisdom often encompassed in one artwork.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3 The figures represented on the tea set include bodhisattvas (enlightened beings. This term was often used in reference to the Buddha himself prior to when he achieved enlightenment. ‘Sattva’ means being intent on achieving while ‘Bodhi’ translates as enlightenment).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4 The multiple armed bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, known in Vietnam as Quán The Âm or Quan Âm, is one of the figures represented along the border of the tray. Initially always a male figure, in many cultures Avalokiteśvara was later also represented as female. Quán Âm is the Bodhisattva of Infinite Compassion, known to appear after recitation to anyone in distress. Representations of Avalokiteśvara are known to have two, four, six, eight, eighteen or more arms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5 Avalokiteśvara was one of the most popular represented figures, typically portrayed with multiple limbs, wearing a headdress\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6 and sitting on a lotus flower. This is how Quán Âm is shown on the border of this tray, surrounded by a floral shape. This bodhisattva is one of four figures represented on the border of the tray.\u003cbr\u003eOther comparable figures are depicted on the tray, tea pot and milk jug. The sugar bowl is\u003cbr\u003edecorated with elaborate patterns inspired by flora, but does not include humans, animals or supernatural creatures. Incised on the flat surface of the tray is a depiction of a bodhisattva riding\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e 6 Robert E. Buswell Jr, ed.by, Encyclopedia of Buddhism, Volume One A-L, (New York, NY: Macmillan Reference USA, 2004) p. 61.\u003cbr\u003e5 Tan Pham, Volume 3b of A Traveller’s Story of Vietnam’s Past, From the 10th to the 13th Centuries, Dai Viet and Champa: Panduranga, Kauthara, and Indrapura (New Zealand: 315Kio Publishing, 2024), p. 85. 4 Robert E. Buswell Jr \u0026amp; Donald S. Lopez Jr, The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhisim, “Bodhisattva”,\u0026lt;https:\/\/giaolykalama.com\/library\/English\/The%20Princeton%20dictionary%20of%20Buddhism%20(Lopez).pdf\u0026gt; [accessed 9th June 2025].\u003cbr\u003e3 Robert E. Fischer, Buddhist Art and Architecture, (London: Thames \u0026amp; Hudson, 1993), p.11. 2 ‘Vietnam’, World Statesman, [accessed 28 May 2025] \u0026lt;https:\/\/www.worldstatesmen.org\/Vietnam.html\u0026gt;.\u003cbr\u003e1 ‘List of administrators of the French colony of Cochinchina’, Wikipedia, [accessed 28 May 2025]\u0026lt;https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_administrators_of_the_French_colony_of_Cochinchina \u0026gt;. a horse with a whip aloft. This figure alludes to Crown Prince Siddhartha,7 who later became Gautama Buddah,8 with his horse Kanthaka.9 On the other section of the tray’s surface is a depiction of Māra (Vietnamese: Thiên Ma) and the elephant Girimekhala. Māra is the Buddhist symbol of evil, the personification of death who continuously endeavours and fails to thwart the Buddah’s obtaining of enlightenment. One of Māra’s most well-known attempts was when Māra fought the Buddah with an army of demons.10 This battle is reflected on the tray through the depiction of both the armed Siddahartha and the warmongering Māra on the tray. Although Buddhist literature suggests that Māra could be a plurality of entities,11 this image on the tray may also depict, in addition to Māra, generals of Māra’s army who were said to have ridden an elephant during battle.12 The elephant of Māra is known as Girimekhala. Māra is depicted on the tray riding Girimekhala and wielding daggers in his four arms, surrounded by soldiers of similar appearance. Comparable imagery in Buddhist art depicts Māra with lightening bolts as weapons instead of daggers.13\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe milk jug is similarly decorated with incised figures of Buddah, divinities, demons and\u003cbr\u003eattendants. Buddha is depicted in a serene pose, surrounded by swirling shapes with his hands resting atop his crossed legs. The position, closed eyes and hand gesture of Buddah on the jug correlates with Dhyana Mudra, a meditative pose.14 This pose and hand gesture is emblematic of a state of concentration, representing Prince Siddahartha’s final meditation before enlightenment as the Buddah.15\u003cbr\u003eThe spout of the teapot features the head of a serpent known as Nāga in Sanscrit and Pāli. These creatures inhabit underwater kingdoms and the roots of monumental trees, often with the intention to protect treasure. They are said to be under the command of Virupaksa, the god of the west and they guard the Traystrimsa Heaven. There are times when they appear in the audience\u003cbr\u003e15 ‘Dhyana Mudra’, Map Academy, \u0026lt;https:\/\/mapacademy.io\/article\/dhyana-mudra\/\u0026gt;, [accessed 9th June 2025].\u003cbr\u003e14 Ramesh Rohit, ‘An Analytical Study of Buddhist Art and Jain Art’, Dhammacakka, Journal of Buddhism and Applied Buddhism, Vol. 1, Issue 1, 49-55, (p.54).\u003cbr\u003e13 E, Hultzsch, ‘Jatakas at Bharaut’, The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, (1916) pp. 399-410 (p. 409).\u003cbr\u003e12 Stache-Rosen, p. 5.\u003cbr\u003e11 James W. Boyd, ‘Symbols of Evil in Buddhism’, The Journal of Asian Studies, Vol. 31, No. 1 (1971) pp. 63-75 (p.63.)\u003cbr\u003e10 Valentina Stache-Rosen, ‘The Temptation of the Buddha, Preliminary Comparision of some Chinese versions of an episode in the life of the Buddha’, Bulletin of Tibetology, Vol. 12, No. 1, (February 1975) pp.5 - 19. (p. 5.).\u003cbr\u003e9 Buswell Jr \u0026amp; Lopez Jr, “Kanthaka” \u0026lt;\u003cbr\u003ehttps:\/\/giaolykalama.com\/library\/English\/The%20Princeton%20dictionary%20of%20Buddhism%20(Lopez).pdf \u0026gt; [accessed 9th June 2025].\u003cbr\u003e8 Buswell Jr \u0026amp; Lopez Jr, “Gautama”\u003cbr\u003e\u0026lt;https:\/\/giaolykalama.com\/library\/English\/The%20Princeton%20dictionary%20of%20Buddhism%20(Lopez).pdf \u0026gt; [accessed 9th June 2025]\u003cbr\u003e7 Buswell Jr \u0026amp; Lopez Jr, “Siddhartha”\u003cbr\u003e\u0026lt;https:\/\/giaolykalama.com\/library\/English\/The%20Princeton%20dictionary%20of%20Buddhism%20(Lopez).pdf \u0026gt; [accessed 9th June 2025] of the Buddah, as detailed in the famous Lotus Sutra. A nāga may be benevolent or malevolent and there were instances where they served to protect or shelter the Buddah.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e16 This remarkable tea set, in addition to being expertly crafted and aesthetically beautiful, is a fascinating conveyance of Buddhist doctrine, myth and legend. The imagery, with knowledge of the iconography, could be read as a story, with each figure, detail and creature being emblematic of the extraordinary tales of the Buddah’s life and journey prior to enlightenment. In addition to it being an element of Vietnamese religious history, it also is a testament, with its inclusion in the collection of the Lieutenant General of Cochinchina, to the imprint of European colonialism and interest in Asian and Buddhist culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeasurements:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWidth: 51cm \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDepth: 27.5cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHeight: 25cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWeight: 3,761 grams\u003c\/p\u003e"}