late 1700s/early 1800s Chinese Export Silver Shell Form Bowl / Dish Heavy Weight

Description

Presented is a handsome Chinese export silver bowl or dish, dating to the late 1700s or early 1800s. The dish is done in a classical fluted or scalloped shell form, tapering into a bold scroll design at the back. The dish stands on four scroll form feet, though the overall design of the feet looks like it might be referencing the Chinese "fu bat" designs commonly seen in Chinese decoration. The dish is quite well made, with a nice feeling of weight and quality in the hand.
This piece is in great overall condition. There are some tiny dings here and there, which is to be expected on a piece of this age. There are no splits, no breaks, no dents, no cracks, no monograms, no monogram removals, and no repairs.
This piece is hallmarked on the underside with what look like English Georgian hallmarks, but based on the style of the piece and the marks we believe it is Chinese export silver, though of the time period the marks would indicate if they were English markings (circa 1797). Chinese export silver hallmarks emulating English hallmarks is a well known phenomenon, and examples of this type of mark can be seen in the book "Chinese export silver, 1785 to 1885" by H. A. Crosby Forbes, as well as on the hallmark cataloguing website, 925-1000.com. This piece has been nitric acid tested and is guaranteed at least 900 purity silver.
The dish measures about 9 by 4 1/2 by 3 5/8 inches, LxWxH.
This piece weighs 342 grams or 12.1 regular ounces.
-jm
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