1880-1900 Chinese Export Silver Parcel-Gilt Serving Spoon with Mandarin Finial Sun Shing (孫盛) Canton (Guangzhou) (78 g)

$600.00
An exceptional example of late Qing dynasty export silver, this substantial parcel-gilt serving spoon was made by Sun Shing (孫盛), one of the foremost Cantonese silversmiths active during the latter half of the 19th century. Executed in high relief, the terminal features a fully cast and parcel-gilt figure of a Qing civil official, finely modeled in court dress, including a formal robe with embroidered rank badge, a Mandarin hat with central finial, and a long braided queue extending down his back. The figure holds a ruyi scepter, emblematic of authority and auspicious power in Chinese iconography. The fluted shaft is paneled and terminates in a flared neck ornamented with finely chased acanthus and scrollwork, echoing late Baroque and Rococo revivalist influences common in export silver designed for Western clientele. The deep oval bowl retains its original fire-gilt surface, contrasting with the plain polished reverse, and is joined to the handle with foliate scroll brackets of unusually crisp detail. This piece stands as a particularly refined example of figural export flatware and demonstrates the fusion of Chinese symbolism with European decorative tastes that typifies high-end silver made for the export trade during the Qing dynasty. The quality of the casting and chasing, as well as the balance and proportion of the whole, reflect the skilled workmanship characteristic of Sun Shing’s output. Dimensions: ~8.5" inches long Weight: 78 grams Mark: “SS” for Sun Shing Provenance: Private American collection Condition: Excellent, with minor surface wear consistent with age and use. Gilding to bowl and figure well preserved; no dents or restorations. A fine and increasingly scarce example of 19th-century Chinese export figural silver. Please see other Chinese export silver here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP?ref=search_shop_redirect§ion_id=29377402 Or just browse around the shop! https://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP
An exceptional example of late Qing dynasty export silver, this substantial parcel-gilt serving spoon was made by Sun Shing (孫盛), one of the foremost Cantonese silversmiths active during the latter half of the 19th century. Executed in high relief, the terminal features a fully cast and parcel-gilt figure of a Qing civil official, finely modeled in court dress, including a formal robe with embroidered rank badge, a Mandarin hat with central finial, and a long braided queue extending down his back. The figure holds a ruyi scepter, emblematic of authority and auspicious power in Chinese iconography. The fluted shaft is paneled and terminates in a flared neck ornamented with finely chased acanthus and scrollwork, echoing late Baroque and Rococo revivalist influences common in export silver designed for Western clientele. The deep oval bowl retains its original fire-gilt surface, contrasting with the plain polished reverse, and is joined to the handle with foliate scroll brackets of unusually crisp detail. This piece stands as a particularly refined example of figural export flatware and demonstrates the fusion of Chinese symbolism with European decorative tastes that typifies high-end silver made for the export trade during the Qing dynasty. The quality of the casting and chasing, as well as the balance and proportion of the whole, reflect the skilled workmanship characteristic of Sun Shing’s output. Dimensions: ~8.5" inches long Weight: 78 grams Mark: “SS” for Sun Shing Provenance: Private American collection Condition: Excellent, with minor surface wear consistent with age and use. Gilding to bowl and figure well preserved; no dents or restorations. A fine and increasingly scarce example of 19th-century Chinese export figural silver. Please see other Chinese export silver here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP?ref=search_shop_redirect§ion_id=29377402 Or just browse around the shop! https://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP