A charming and unusually petite Georgian Chinese silver box, probably made in Canton in the late 18th or early 19th century.
Beautifully hand-worked throughout in high-grade 900 silver, the little cylindrical box is decorated with delicately engraved and chased flowering branches. The flower heads are particularly intriguing, each formed with a small central boss and fine radiating lines resembling tiny suns, while the surrounding leaves are picked out with close parallel engraving. The decoration has a wonderfully graphic, slightly naïve quality characteristic of early Chinese silver, giving the box considerably more personality than its tiny size might suggest.
The box has a simple lift-off lid and its diminutive proportions suggest that it was made as a small personal container, perhaps for pills, beauty patches or another treasured cosmetic or medicinal preparation.
There are several worn impressed ‘chop’ marks to the underside, consistent with the Chinese marking practices found on early Chinese silver. There is also handwritten lettering inscribed in a charmingly old-fashioned, loose script. Although difficult to decipher, it may be an early inscription made by the original owner, adding another intriguing layer to this little object and leaving something for the next owner to explore.
At just 3.2 cm in diameter and 2.5 cm high, and weighing only 16.7 grams, this is a wonderfully tactile little object, the sort of Georgian curiosity that could easily have slipped into a pocket, dressing case or travelling nécessaire.
The box is in good antique condition, with surface wear commensurate with age, and the lid fits snugly. I particularly like the fact that something so small has survived intact and so well preserved.
A charming and genuinely unusual piece of early Chinese silver, with all the appeal of a little Georgian-era object whose original owner and contents have been lost to time.
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At Mercy Madge we offer quality antique and vintage jewellery sourced in Great Britain. All of our pieces are professionally cleaned and polished, ensuring they are ready to wear and enjoy, or present as a thoughtful gift.
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