Chinese Export Silver Goblet

Chased Silver Goblet Engraved with Malay Krises, Gothic ‘K’ Maker

China & Malaysia

circa 1850

height: 20.3cm, weight: 399g

This well-proportioned and particularly well-made Chinese export silver goblet is finely chased on the sides and flared foot with Chinese-style flowers and leaves interspersed with neo-classical ribbons and cartouches. Decoration of this density and type is not apparent on any of the Chinese export silver illustrated in the standard works on the subject.

Four large oval cartouches around the cup of the goblet have been finely engraved with crossed kris blades. The kris is the traditional sword of the Malays, with its characteristic wavy blade. The emblem of a pair of crossed krises usually is associated with Malay royalty (specifically, the royal families associated with Malacca, Lingga and Singapore all used the crossed kris motif in the coats of arms, but the emblem may not have been restricted to them). And so it is likely that this goblet, made in southern China, was exported to one of the Malay states where it was engraved for use in one or another of the Malay royal households.

The cup of the goblet has been double-lined and has a gold wash – clearly the goblet was intended for use as a drinking vessel rather than being purely decorative. The presence of the smooth lining, rather than leaving the outer layer exposed with its uneven interior, accords with Islamic-Malay notions of hygiene and cleanliness when it comes to eating and drinking vessels. It might have been added by the maker in China, or was added in Malaya.

The interior of the foot is stamped by the maker that has become known as ‘Gothic K’ as per the Gothic nature of the ‘K’ stamp used to mark his work. But the actual identity of this maker is not known, although it is clear that it is a maker who operated in Guangdong (Canton) around the middle of the nineteenth century. It is accompanied by a Chinese mark that is illegible.

Overall, this is a fine example of Chinese export silver which tells an interesting history of mainland Chinese workmanship, and local finishing for a Malay client. As such it is a rare example of Chinese export silver that was demonstratably destined for the Southeast Asia Islamic market rather than for the more usual markets of Western Europe and the United States.

References

Chan, D.P.L., Chinese Export Silver: The Chan Collection, published in conjunction with the Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore, 2005.

Kernan, J.D., The Chait Collection of Chinese Export Silver, Ralph M. Chait Galleries, 1985.

Finestone, J. & S. Taib, The Royal Families of Southeast Asia, Shahidera Sdn Bhd, 2004.

Forbes, H.A.C. et al, Chinese Export Silver 1785-1885, Museum of the American China Trade, 1975.

Marlowe, A.J., Chinese Export Silver, John Sparks, 1990.

Provenance

UK art market

Inventory no.: 1303

SOLD