The Chinese and Asian Art Forum. For Fans, Collectors and Dealers.
Basic Rules For the BidAmount Asian Art Forum: Talk about whatever you want. You can even discuss and offer things that are for sale if they are authentic. Maximum image file size per post is 2 MB. Images of 700pxl x 700pxl are optimal if saved at a medium resolution. Be respectful of others and enjoy yourself. Click the YouTube link for a brief tutorial on using the forum. You can also EMBED Videos by cutting and pasting from You-Tube, Vimeo etc.
NOTE: To post an item or add a new post, click open the category title from the FORUM LIST, and CLICK the Blue ADD TOPIC button.
I was hoping to find out a bit more about this tea set.
I got it from a woman who said it was purchased at a market near Lahore Pakistan, at least 40 years ago and that the pattern in it is hand hammered. She was not sure if it was new at the time.
Except for a the number "5" stamped on the tea pot lid hinge there are no identifying marks that I can find. It is nice and shiny and does not seem to react to silver polish, so I doubt is silver plated. I think the metal is solid throughout i.e. I scratched the inside of the pepper shaker and it did not appear to be any copper or brass beneath the surface. I am thinking perhaps it is "German Silver" (i.e. no silver content at all). It has a reasonable weight to it and does not feel "cheap".
I think it is quite beautiful and believe if it is of any value that is probably more in the handy work rather than the metal. I only found a photo of another fairly similar tea set on a Pakistani auction site, but unfortunately only the photo was available as the auction was over.
If anyone has any more information or comments I would like to hear them. Is it of any value? And if permissible to state (or private message me) what value should I put on it if i want to sell it.
Thanks in advance!
Hi Andy,
From your images your tea set appears to be silver plated. Probably vintage and the former owner purchased as new.
Mark
Hi,
I would guess it is likely silver plated alloy, the attached fixtures (feet, handles, finials, etc) appear to be cast and soldered on, The chasing and forming is rather crude (Not intending to insult your pieces, just in execution) in my opinion, so I would place it in the vintage think 50 years ago max. You can see comparable pieces of Indian silver for export which are much finer in execution, and I would group Pakistan in regionally as their silver craft has similar design elements and construction. I do find your set quite lovely from a decorative standpoint, and I certainly think it has a decent retail just for display purposes.
for comparison here is a site with exceptional pieces of Indian silver
as well as a tea set I recently sold from Lucknow, (note that the cast pieces and the soldering are enhanced by carving and feathering decorations over top, to cover the fact that it is still fairly crude)
https://www.pushkinantiques.com/sold-indian
I hope this helps,
Jeremy
@jbeer2121 I have an Indonesian tea set that is Banka tin, which has the appearance of silver but the advantage of not tarnishing. They told me it was safe to use, but I never did because of the use of the word tin in the name. It is decorative on a sideboard, but before using any alloy material with hot liquids, I would check it out first. Watched a movie with Mark Ruffalo about Teflon recently, oh my goodness, my generation is lucky to have a brain cell between us. Sharon
I mostly sell early English and Colonial American silver, though I collect Old Sheffield Plate and Close Plate, the amount of questionable materials and metals in the things I have consumed hot beverages out of is terrifying. I don't think I have ever used tin, however I am sure it can be dangerous, more frightening to me is the use of lead solder in the attachment of spouts and filling seams.
I do however like to use most things in my possession at least once, so I am likely not a good person to look to for suggestions... haha.
-Jeremy
I have heard this method working well with flatware and thicker objects, and some hollow wares, however just as a slight warning many "Asian" silver pieces are an alloy, with lower amounts of silver and uncertain standards, that will ring like silver or close to it when knocked. Another option is seeing how malleable the piece is, for the most part, silver and silver alloys have some give when flexed and most plated items do not. I do however find many exceptions, such as recently a piece of unmarked french plate on a silver alloy that dates to the early 19th century, that has the luster, warmth, flexibility and ring of silver. It really is a puzzling piece as the workmanship that went into it is probably 100 times the work of a sterling piece from the same era, it is just that man hours were not nearly equivalent to the precious metal value at the time.
Sorry I took this thread on a strange and rambling tangent.
Cheers,
Jeremy
Thank you Jeremy for your post. Very interesting and informative. 🙏
Mark
Thank you all for your informative replies.
I have a bit more information as I posted to another forum too, which led me to looking at this from a different point of view. It was suggested that the salt and pepper shakers probably did not belong to the set and as it was one of the shakers that I scratched to test for plating or not, I took a closer look at the other pieces with a magnifying glass ( I was also looking for marks I may have missed in English or otherwise). On closer inspection of the tray (magnified) I noticed some small scratches and what looks probably like brass beneath. I scratched the inside of the creamer jug in an inconspicuous place and it appears there is brass below the surface too - so I am going to agree that it is plated - probably brass. Silver plate, or otherwise, I am not sure. Unfortunately, though I went over all the pieces several times I still could not find any marker's marks in English or any other language.
Given that it is probably a decorative piece(s) of plated brass about 50 years old, a bit crudely cast, with some reasonably done handy work any ideas on value for retail? ( please post if allowed, or message me if not)
Thanks - the research journey is sometimes the most fun part about acquiring a piece(s) like this - you always learn something along the way!
Thanks for visiting "The BidAmount Asian Art Forum | Chinese Art"
If you sell on eBay, or have a shop feel free to post images and descriptions and links.
Check back often for discussion about the latest news in the Chinese art and antique world. Also find out about the latest Asian art auctions at Sotheby's, Christie's, Bonhams and Tajans.
Auction results for: fine porcelain, ceramics, bronze, jade, textiles and scholar's objects. As well as Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese and other Asian cultures.
Thank you,
Peter Combs
Topics and categories on The BidAmount Asian Art Forum | Chinese Art
Kangxi vases, Kangxi dishes and chargers, Kangxi ritual pieces, Kangxi scholar's objects, Qianlong famille rose, Qianlong enamels, Qianlong period paintings, Qianlong Emporer's court, Fine porcelain of the Yongzheng period. Chinese imperial art, Ming porcelain including Jiajing, Wanli, Xuande, Chenghua as well as Ming jades and bronzes.
The BidAmount Asian Art Forum | Chinese Art
A free Asian art discussion board and Asian art message board for dealers and collectors of art and antiques from China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and the rest of Asia. Linked to all of the BidAmount Asian art reference areas, with videos from plcombs Asian Art and Bidamount on YouTube. Sign up also for the weekly BidAmount newsletter and catalogs of active eBay listing of Chinese porcelain, bronze, jades, robes, and paintings.
The art of calligraphy - and for the ancient Chinese it certainly was an art - aimed to demonstrate superior control and skill using brush and ink. Calligraphy established itself as one of the major Chinese art forms during the Han dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE), and for two millennia after, all educated men were expected to be proficient at it.
The Museum’s collections of Asian art span nearly five millennia and encompass the cultures of China, the Himalayas, India, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia. In 2007, the Museum launched an initiative to create dedicated galleries for the collection, beginning with a gallery for the arts of Korea ...
Chinese art is full of symbolism, in that artists typically seek to depict some aspect of a totality of which they are intuitively aware.
China Online Museum is the finest online museum of Chinese art. It features Chinese calligraphy, painting, ceramics, bronzes, carving, and other artworks.
Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. Overview Upcoming auctions Contacts Auction results ... Christie’s sales of Chinese ceramics and works of art showcase centuries of Chinese history. Held throughout the year in London, New York, Paris and Hong Kong, they attract a wide audience of collectors and connoisseurs vying for pieces as diverse as ...
Explore Asian Art Week. Contact the Specialist Department. Chinese Paintings ... Senior Specialist, Head of Sale. [email protected]. Tel:+1 212 641 5760. Bid in-person or online for the upcoming auction:Fine Chinese Paintings on 10 September 2019 at New York. Bid in-person or online for the upcoming auction:Fine Chinese Paintings on 10 ...
Discover an abundance of must-see art from all corners of a vast continent at Christie’s NY Asian Art Week. From contemporary classical and Chinese paintings to works with exemplary provenance from the Art Institute of Chicago, our Rockefeller Paza galleries will be full of ancient treasures and contemporary masterworks in a salute to the vibrant arts of Asia.
Sold to benefit The Art Institute of Chicago’s Asian Art Acquisition Fund, the sale features 84 lots with a focus on Ming and Qing porcelains, and offers a rare insight into the taste for collecting Chinese ceramics and works of art in the Midwest from the end of the 19th century through the 1980s. Highlights include two Wanli wucai garlic-head vases, a Qianlong mark and period, blue and ...
Specialist, Chinese Paintings, Christie's London Dr Malcolm McNeill is a Specialist in Chinese Paintings at Christie’s, based in London. He previously worked as an assistant curator of the Chinese collections and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, as a researcher at the British Museum, and as a translator and tour guide at the National Palace Museum in Taipei.
The Christie's Education 2020 Conference: The Chinese Art Market 18 Jun 2019 Christie’s Education is delighted to announce our first international academic conference in Asia which will take place in Hong Kong from 26-27 November 2020 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and will run in parallel with Christie’s Hong Kong Autumn Auctions.
The summer Chinese Art sale in Hong Kong will feature works of art from several private collections, including Qing porcelains and textile from the collection of the legendary Chinese art dealer A. W. Bahr (1877–1959), fine gilt bronze Buddhist sculptures from an old Hong Kong collection, an East Asian collection of Qing dynasty wine cups and jades, and a Japanese collection of Song ceramics ...
Sotheby's Chinese Works of Art Department holds two auctions each year in London, New York, Hong Kong and Paris.
Chinese Art - View Auction details, bid, buy and collect the various artworks at Sothebys Art Auction House.
With more than 340 Chinese works of art dating from the Neolithic to the Republic periods, highlights of this sale include a selection of Qing Imperial monochromes from the collection of Arnold and Blema Steinberg, early ceramics from the Art Institute of Chicago and Chinese porcelain and works of art from the collection of Henry Arnhold.
Results: Sotheby's Asia Week achieved $52.4 million in six strong auctions, exceeding pre-sale estimates. With 76.5% of lots sold and 60.3% of lots surpassing high estimates, the Asian art sales at Sotheby's indicate continued collector interest in the finest works of art from China, India and and the Himalayas.
Today's sale of Important Chinese Art will proceed as planned with sessions at 10 AM and 2 PM EDT. Sotheby's will be monitoring the weather conditions throughout the day and will be available to coordinate alternative bidding options should conditions make it difficult for clients to attend the auction in person.
Bonhams Chinese Art department is renowned for offering the finest works of art representing the richness and breadth of China's artistic heritage, particularly Imperial porcelain, white and spinach green jades, cloisonné and Buddhist art. Specialised international auctions are held globally, including London, Hong Kong and San Francisco.
Bonhams : Chinese Works of Art We use cookies to remember choices you make on functionality and personal features to enhance your experience to our site. By continuing to use our site you consent to the use of cookies. Please refer to our privacy and cookie policies for more information.
Bonhams Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers: auctioneers of art, pictures, collectables and motor cars. We use cookies to remember choices you make on functionality and personal features to enhance your experience to our site. By continuing to use our site you consent to the use of cookies. ... Chinese Art (US) General enquiries
Bonhams : Fine Chinese Art We use cookies to remember choices you make on functionality and personal features to enhance your experience to our site. By continuing to use our site you consent to the use of cookies. Please refer to our privacy and cookie policies for more information.
Bonhams Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers: auctioneers of art, pictures, collectables and motor cars Bonhams : Asian Art We use cookies to remember choices you make on functionality and personal features to enhance your experience to our site.
Bonhams are international auctioneers of fine Chinese and Japanese art. We specialise in rare Imperial and Export Chinese ceramics and works of art, as well as Japanese ceramics, fine and decorative works of art from the Neolithic Period to the 20th century. View on map
Bonhams Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers: auctioneers of art, pictures, collectables and motor cars. We use cookies to remember choices you make on functionality and personal features to enhance your experience to our site. By continuing to use our site you consent to the use of cookies. ... Asian Art Bonhams. Work. 22 Queen St.