1890 Chinese Export 足紋 Silver Tureen by 物華 Wu Hua of 北京 Beijing (3,021 grams)

A very scarce and significant piece of Chinese silver made by highly important and prestigious maker 物華 Wu Hua of 北京 Beijing before the Boxer Rebellion around 1890 just outside the Forbidden City on Silver Street.

This is one of only two Chinese export silver soup tureens that I can identify, and it was surely made for an important American diplomat. The second is here in the Met Museum in New York: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/7703

The very heavy gauge tureen includes absolutely gorgeous cast and applied imperial lions at the feet and handles, but overall practices a great deal of restraint in its design. The gracefully curving handles come from the lions’ mouths, appearing as their tongues. Well marked and with a hand hammered appearance in the interior.

Condition is stunning and no issues are noted of any significance. Recovered from the estate of a lifelong antiques dealer in the US.

Marked as follows:
北京 (read from right to left) = Beijing
物華 (top to bottom) = Wu Hua
足紋 (top to bottom) = Pure Silver (Wen Silver)

Dimensions: 10.5” x 18”.

Weight: 3,021 grams

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这是一件非常稀有且具有重要意义的中国银器，由北京非常重要且享有盛誉的制造商物华吴华在 1890 年义和团运动之前在紫禁城外的银街制造。

这是我能认出的仅有的两个中国出口银汤碗之一，它肯定是为一位重要的美国外交官制作的。第二个在这里：https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/7703

这款非常厚重的盖碗在底部和手柄处采用了绝对华丽的铸件和皇家狮子图案，但总体而言，其设计却受到了很大的限制。优雅弯曲的手柄来自狮子的嘴，看起来像它们的舌头。内部有明显的标记和手工锤打的外观。

状况令人惊叹，没有发现任何重大问题。从美国一位终身古董商的遗产中恢复。

标记如下：北京（从右到左读）=北京物华（从上到下）=五华足纹（从上到下）=纯银（文银）

尺寸：10.5 英寸 x 18 英寸。

重量：3,021克

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