Chinese Trade Silver European-style Vase, Unidentified Hallmark

Silver : Antique : Chinese Trade/Export Silver

 

This 5-1/4"-high European-style fluted vase is Chinese Trade Silver with an unidentified hallmark engraved on the base (photo 8). Such hallmarks were used to mimic European hallmarks and might or might not actually identify the maker. I prefer the term "Chinese Trade Silver" (CTS) to "Chinese Export Silver" (CES) because typically such silver products weren't exported at all. Chinese Trade Silver was made for tourists during the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries who bought them while visiting China, often shops located in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Canton. A finely detailed repousse dragon, a popular motif, encircles the base of the vase (photos 2 & 3), which is 2.5" in diameter. This vase resembles a trumpet in shape and has a scalloped rim (photos 4 & 5); a plate of tarnished silver covers the base (photo 6), doubtless to cover the repousse work on the surface of the base. Scratched on the plate covering the base there's also a five-digit number, 73763. I don't why it's there or what it represents. Aside from a flattened edge on the attached plate (photo 7), the vase is in excellent condition.

Item ID: 2538