The Year of the Dragon
November 7, 2024
Every year as the Lunar New Year approaches I try
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A Chinese Export silver presentation bowl
The body of the bowl is pierced and repousse worked with two dragons cavorting in the clouds chasing the magic pearl that forms a reserve for engraving .
In the Chinese culture, the dragon represents good luck, strength, health and also the male element Yang. The dragon is unique because it is the only mythical creature of all the animals in the Chinese zodiac and babies are born in the year of the dragon more than any other animal.
The contemporary green glass liner shows off the work to perfection .
This bowl has an interesting import mark of a swan
The ‘Swan’ mark was introduced on 1st June 1864, it was used on silver articles imported into France from countries without Customs Conventions. Its use was discontinued on 1st June 1893 as it was now stipulated that all imported gold and silver should comply with the same conditions as that was manufactured in France.
So this dates the bowl to between 1864 and 1893. The style of this Chinese Export silver bowl was very popular in the later years of that period
Every year as the Lunar New Year approaches I try
A sauce boat, gravy boat, or saucière is a low