Antique Chinese Silver Vase, Classic Meiping Shape, Repousse & Chased Scenic Panels, c.1900

£1,850.00

Description

Antique Chinese Silver Vase, Classic Meiping Shape, Repousse & Chased Scenic Panels, c.1900

This lovely Chinese silver vase is of the classic meiping shape and was meant to hold a single branch of plum tree blossoms. The meiping was especially popular during the Song (960–1279) and Ming (1368–1644) periods. The meiping was a tall vase, often of celadon, made to convey certain characteristics of an idealised female form, i.e. a small mouth, a short, narrow neck, a plump bosom and a concave belly. There are two stamped marks to the side of the foot, one in Chinese characters and the other comprising English letters as is frequently the case with Chinese silver articles. The retailer has not been identified.
The vase has a plain silver neck which is balanced by the plain silver border around the pedestal foot. Running down from the nape of the ‘neck’ to the top of the pedestal foot, the area has been divided into four vertical panels separated by plain silver borders. One panel contains a circular cartouche which is unused and vacant. These panels have been ornamented using repousse and chased techniques. The ornamentation is very artistic, the natural elements have been handled with great sensitivity by the craftsman, who is clearly very experienced. One panel shows a bird perched on the stem of a chrysanthemum plant, another a pair of birds, possibly magpies, flying down and towards a stand of bamboo. A third scene shows a garden with a weeping tree. A woman looks down from a window inside the building, watching as a man approaches the tree and fence. On the other side of the fence, a kneeling woman is either cooking or burning incense in a small cauldron. Clouds of smoke or steam emanate from the cauldron.
A very charming vase in excellent condition with all elements of the repousse and chased ornamentation very crisp and well defined.

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Product REF: 10012