Chinese Export Silver Dragon Bowl - Antique Circa 1900

Description

This impressive Chinese Export Silver (CES) bowl has a circular rounded form onto a circular spreading foot.

The body of this Chinese silver bowl is embellished with an exceptional applied traditional oriental undulating dragon design.

The decoration to the body incorporates the engraved inscription 'Presented to Miss M. J. Williams, Headmistress of Graig-Bedlinog School, on the occasion of her retrement on 31st March 1945, by the public of Bedlinog, Glam'.

The upper rim of this impressive CES bowl is encircled with an exceptional pierced cloud decorated border, accented with further undulating dragon designs flanking shaped vacant cartouches.

The circular spreading foot is embellished with impressive applied plum blossom sprays, accented with a plain applied moulded border paralleling the incurved shaped rim.

The hallmarks struck to the underside of this magnificent antique Chinese silver dragon bowl include:

Maker's mark: WH (Wang Hing & Company)

Silver quality/purity mark: 79 (79 standard, 790/1000)

Character mark: 葉伯* (YE BO)

* This character mark defines the artisan workshop, in this instance YE BO; a Canton workshop that only made pieces for Wang Hing and Luen Wo. We are grateful to Adrien von Ferscht for his help in identifying this exceptional antique piece.

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