Chinese Export Silver Gilt Potpourri Boxes - Antique Circa 1870

Description

These fine antique Chinese export silver (CES) gilt potpourri boxes have a heart shaped form onto three ball style feet.

The gilded body of each box is embellished with impressive panels of pierced floral and leaf ornamentation.

Each heart shaped box is fitted with a push fit cover featuring further pierced floral decoration to the domed portion, encompassed with a solid border accented with nail-work Persian script*.

The covers are surmounted with plain rounded handles.

The CES hallmarks struck to the underside of each gilded potpourri box includes:

Maker's mark: MK (undocumented name)

Silver quality/purity mark: 88 (88 standard, 880/1000)

Character mark: Untraced

* Nail-work ornamentation is a common method used in Persia and across the Middle East. Using a potpourri box to contain herbs, spices and fragrances is a traditional part of the Jewish culture, especially those of Persian decent.

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