19th Century Chinese Silver and Enamel Ruyi, Tian Bao, Beijing, circa 1880

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19th Century Chinese Silver and Enamel Ruyi, Tian Bao, Beijing, circa 1880

About the Item

Antique 19th century extremely rare Chinese solid silver-gilt and blue enamel Ruyi scepter, decorated in repoussé with a four character inscription to the shaft reading ji xiang ru yi, the head with a bird on a blossoming tree, the central panel with a stylised shou character and the terminal with a bat holding a spray of peaches in its mouth, all picked out in gilt and within key fret border with dark blue enamel, a six character mark to the reverse including the maker's mark for Tian Bao. Ruyi scepter is a curved decorative object that serves as a ceremonial scepter in Chinese Buddhism or a talisman symbolizing power and good fortune in Chinese folklore. A traditional Ruyi has a long S-shaped handle and a head fashioned like a fist, cloud, or lingzhi mushroom. Ruyi are constructed from diverse materials, for example, the Palace Museum in Beijing has nearly 3000 ruyi that are variously made from valuable materials like gold, silver, iron, bamboo, wood, ivory, coral, rhinoceros Horn, lacquer, crystal, jade, and precious gems. The "ruyi" image frequently appears as a motif in Asian art. Hallmarked with the mark of a renowned Beijing silversmith, Tian Bao (active 1860-1940) who specialised in silver and enamel combination work and cloisonné, Beijing being the traditional home of Chinese enamel work. It is unclear whether Tian Bao was a manufacturing silversmith, a retail silversmith or both, but there is certainly evidence the Tian Bao operation was built upon a long standing silver making tradition that was probably family generational during the last years of the decline of the Qing dynasty, it became increasingly clear that drastic economies and changes had to be made to the unwieldy establishment behind the Imperial throne. Many of the Imperial workshops in the Forbidden City were disbanded and this caused some of the master enamellers and metalworkers to set up independent workshops, of which Tian Bao was one. For more information and examples of Tian Bao work please see A. Von Ferscht, Chinese Export Silver 1785-1940, 4th edition 2015, page 719. Condition: In great condition, no damage. Size: Height 37 cm Width 9.5 cm Weight 225g.

Creator:
Tian Bao (Maker)
Dimensions:
Height: 14.57 in (37 cm)Width: 3.75 in (9.5 cm)Depth: 1.19 in (3 cm)
Style:
Chinese Export (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Enamel,Silver
Place of Origin:
China
Period:
19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1880
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. In Great Condition - No Damage.
Seller Location:
Royal Tunbridge Wells, GB
Reference Number:
Seller: A47711stDibs: LU1348217096831