A RARE IMPERIAL PAIR OF GOLD PRESENTATION WINE EWERS, CUPS AND CUPSTANDS

THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN

Details

A RARE IMPERIAL PAIR OF GOLD PRESENTATION WINE EWERS, CUPS AND CUPSTANDS
19TH CENTURY

The solid gold set finely crafted, each pear-shaped ewer with pairs of chased xi characters on the raised medallions reserved on a floral scroll ground above the spreading foot with waves and rocks, the waisted neck with stiff plantain leaves divided by a border of classic scroll, the slender spout issuing from a dragon mask connected to the 'S'-curved handle by a bar with lingzhi and dragons, the cover with phoenix attached to the handle with a chain; the cups and matching cupstands finely worked with dragons and phoenix amid cloud scrolls reserved on a stamped ground, the handles modelled as pairs of lingzhi, the raised stand as lappets enclosing ruyi, the rims with borders of overlapping petals, the bases stamped jubao--the ewers 9 1/4in. (23.5cm.) diam. (4)

Provenance

King Farouk of Egypt, presented to him as a gift by the Chinese Government
Sold in the auction "The Palace Collections of Egypt, Catalogue of the Valuable and Extensive Collection of Silver and Silver-Gilt", Sotheby's London, 24 March 1954, lot 40, and catalogued as from either the Kourbeh, Tahra and Abdin Palaces

Lot Essay

For a related gold ewer, cup and cupstand, cf. the examples illustrated in Chinese Works of Art: The Complete Record, vol. 10, Gold, Silver, Glass and Enamels, no. 183 and 184.

The ewers seem a bit later in date than the cups and cupstands and were most probably made in the late 19th Century to go with the existing pair

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