Huge Antique Chinese Export Shagreened Sterling Silver Table Box+5 Toe Dragons
WELCOME TO MY PRIVATE MUSEUM! FINE & UNIQUE ITEMS HAND SELECTED FOR THEIR RARITY & QUALITY. A TRULY RARE AND FANTASTIC ORIGINAL ANTIQUE! DEAR FELLOW LOVERS OF THE FINEST IN ASIAN ART, ANTIQUES AND UNUSUAL RARITIES FROM CHINA, THIS PHENOMENAL, RARE AND EXCEPTIONALLY LARGE AND HEAVY ALL SOLID CHINESE SILVER OF STERLING OR SIMILAR QUALITY WAS SUPERBLY CRAFTED ABOUT A CENTURY AGO WITH THE ENTIRE EXTERIOR METICULOUSLY DETAILED BY HAND WITH THE SURFACE HAVING THOUSANDS OF MINISCULE HAMMERED TEXTURED SCALES TO EMULATE THE EFFECT OF SHAGREEN (SHARK SKIN). THIS IS NOT A TINY SNUFF BOX, LITTLE CIGARETTE BOX OR SOMETHING THAT ONE KEEPS ONLY A PACK OF PLAYING CARDS BUT INSTEAD, A LARGE AND HIGHLY IMPRESSIVE TABLE BOX MEASURING 7.75 INCHES IN LENGTH, 4 INCHES WIDE AND 2&1/2 INCHES TALL. THE TOP AND ALL 4 SIDES ARE BEAUTIFULLY APPLIED WITH FINELY SCULPTED IMPERIAL DRAGONS (IN CHINESE TRADITION, DRAGONS DEPICTED WITH 5 TOES, LIKE THESE, WERE ONLY USED ON ITEMS FOR IMPERIAL OWNERS OR ON GIFTS TO BE GIVEN FROM THE IMPERIAL FAMILY). THESE INTRICATELY FORMED IMPERIAL CHINESE DRAGONS ARE EXCEPTIONAL AND IN VERY HIGH RELIEF. THE TOP IS APPLIED WITH TWO DIFFERENT IMPERIAL DRAGONS WITH EACH FLANKING AN APPLIED PANEL AS THE CENTRAL BLANK RECTANGULAR RAISED CARTOUCHE WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED FOR A PRESENTATION OR MONOGRAM BUT THE PLAQUE WAS NEVER MONOGRAMMED ALLOWING YOU TO EASILY ADD YOUR OWN OR THOSE OF A GIFTEE AS ANY GOOD JEWELER OFFERS AFFORDABLE ENGRAVING SHOULD YOU DESIRE TO PERSONALIZE THIS FOR YOUSELF OR AS A GIFT THAT WILL SURELY IMPRESS THE RECEIPIENT! THE OTHER TWO HIGH RELIEF APPLIED IMPERIAL DRAGONS HAVE THEIR HEADS AND UPPER BODIES POSITIONED ON EITHER SIDE OF THE FINGER REST, THAT’S CLEVERLY DESIGNED AS A RAISED ROUND “PEARLY” AS OFTEN DRAGONS ARE DEPICTED CHASING A PEARL IN CHINESE MYTHOLOGY. THE DRAGONS MID SECTION ARE ALSO IN RELIEF AND GRACEFULLY CURVE AROUND EACH OF THE TWO SIDES WITH THE DRAGON’S FRONT BACK FEET GRASPING THE CORNERS AND THEIR REMAINING BODY, BACK FEET AND TAIL TERMINATING ON THE BOX’S BACK BELOW THE LONG AND EXTRA STURDY HINGE. THIS EXCEPTIONAL BOX IS SO WELL MADE WITH THE SILVER BEING OF A VERY THICK GAUGE UNLIKE LESSER QUALITY WARES MADE FOR TOURISTS OF LIGHT WEIGHT SILVER SHEET. IT IS WHY THIS BOX HAS SUCH AN EXCESSIVE WEIGHTYNESS AND OVERALL STRONG FEEL. EVEN THE INTERIOR IS FINELY FINISHED WITH A RICH ROSEWOOD COLORED REAL WOOD LINER. DON’T WORRY AS THE WOOD IS VERY THIN AND ADDS LITTLE TO THE OVERALL IMPRESSIVE WEIGHT OF THE SUMPTUOUS SILVER. SPEAKING OF WEIGHT, THIS PRECIOUS PIECE OF CHINESE CRAFTSMANSHIP WEIGHS A SUBSTANTIAL 544 GRAMS WHICH IS ALMOST 1&1/4 POUNDS OF MAGNIFICENT SILVER! BESIDES THE OVERWHELMING QUALITY, GRAND SIZE, BEAUTIFUL DESIGN, ATTENTION TO DETAIL, SENSATIONAL CRAFTSMANSHIP, GORGEOUS INTERIOR, ANTIQUARIAN RARITY, COSTLY SILVER CONTENT, FABULOUS WEIGHTY FEEL AND AMAZING PRECISION REQUIRED TO FORM A HINGED BOX THAT AFTER 100 YEARS STILL OPENS AND CLOSES PERFECTLY, I MUST MENTION THAT THE OVERALL CONDITION OF THIS ELEGANT MASTERPIECE IS EVERY BIT AS OUTSTANDING AS IT IS BEAUTIFUL. IT IS JUST AS ONE EXPECTS FROM A CHINESE MASTER ARTISAN SILVERSMITH WHO, UNLIKE TODAY WHERE EVERYTHING IS CAST AND MASS PRODUCED WITH LITTLE OR NO HAND WORK, HAD TRUE PRIDE IN WORKMANSHIP AND WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT THE WONDROUS QUALITY EXHIBITED IN THIS EXTRAORDINARY ONE OF A KIND PIECE. IT IS WHY I LOVED THIS SO DEARLY AS THIS WAS SO OBVIOUSLY CREATED WITH GREAT TALENT AROUND A CENTURY AGO. I DON’T KNOW HOW ELSE TO EXPRESS THE SPLENDIDNESS OF THIS MAGNIFICENT SILVER BOX THEN TO SAY THAT IT IS TRULY MAGNIFICENT. THIS HAS HELD A PRIME PLACE ON MY LIVING ROOM COFFEE TABLE FOR THE PAST 30+ YEARS. THE MOMENT THAT I SAW THIS ALLURING SCULPTED ANTIQUE SILVER TABLE BOX AND REALIZED THE DRAGONS WERE OF AN IMPERIAL DESIGN, I KNEW IT WAS SOMETHING OF GREAT IMPORTANCE THAT I JUST MUST BRING HOME FOR MYSELF TO ENJOY. IT HAS BEEN DEEPLY ENJOYED IN MY HOME EVER SINCE THAT DAY, DECADES AGO, BUT NOW, WITH MY 87TH BIRTHDAY FAST APPROACHING, I KNOW IT IS TIME FOR ME TO FIND THIS AND MANY OF MY OTHER MOST PRECIOUS HEIRLOOMS A NEW CARETAKER WHO WILL LOVE, CHERISH AND CARE FOR THEM AND ESPECIALLY THIS FANTASTIC CHINESE TREASURE. I KNOW THAT IT SHALL PROVIDE YOU THE SAME PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP, BEAUTY AND APPRECIATION FOR THE ARTS OF IMPERIAL CHINA THAT IT HAD I. IT’S TRULY A SPECTACULAR PIECE FROM OLD CHINA THAT YOU WILL CERTAINLY NOT FIND AGAIN. ENJOY & HAPPY EBAYING, BERNICE ELLEN. ONCE YOU HAVE ENTERED MY STORE AND IF YOU LOVE WHAT I OFFER, YOU CAN CHECK MY ITEMS AS OFTEN AS YOU’D LIKE BY CLICKING THE; ” FOLLOW SELLERS” LINK LOCATED AT THE TOP OF MY STORE’S PAGE. I STILL HAVE HOARDS OF PRECIOUS GOODIES THAT I HAVE BEEN COLLECTING OVER MY LIFE SPENT IN THE ANTIQUES AND FINE JEWELRY BUSINESS. BY THE WAY, I HAPPILY OFFER LAY-A-WAY WITH A NON-REFUNDABLE 20% DEPOSIT AND THE BALANCE DUE WITHIN 30 DAYS OR LONGER ON ANY OF MY VERY EXPENSIVE PIECES! I TYPICALLY USE THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE U. WITH THEIR HIGHER INSURABLE LIMITS. I USE THE U. AND IT IS RATHER COSTLY. POSTAL SERVICE, UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OR ME DIRECTLY. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES HAVE LOW VALUE LIMITS. WHICH IS WHY ANY ITEM EXCEEDING THE LIMITATION SET BY U. WILL BE MAILED THROUGH U. CERTAIN COUNTRIES HAVE REGULATIONS LIMITING THE IMPORTATION OF ART, ANTIQUES, WATCHES, ONE OF A KIND ITEMS AND/OR JEWELRY. PLEASE VERIFY THAT YOUR COUNTRY ALLOWS THE IMPORTATION OF THE ITEM YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING. (MYPRIVATEMUSEUM) IS YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, ACCEPTANCE AND AGREEMENT THAT SHALL THEREFOR CONSTITUTE YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THIS AGREEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY. THANK YOU, DONAHUE ANTIQUESENTIRE AGREEMENT. I have been in the business for just myself well over 30 years. I began as a young girl working in my grandparent’s store and later for my parents. I’ve had several of my very own stores over these past many years but now with rents out of the realm of reality & my age creeping up on me, I have closed the last of them. I do not & will not sell fakes or new reproductions of anything. All my items are 100% as described & the pictures prove it! Any damage or imperfection is noted and all items are mailed with an invisible ID mark that only I know of. This will eliminate anyone trying to item switch a broken treasure with my perfect piece. I will try to accommodate all requests on 1st come, 1st served daily basis. Everything is very carefully packed as I love my things & want you to enjoy them in the same condition as I have. I hope everything is very plain & simple to understand but do not be shy about asking anything should you require additional info or details. I hope you enjoy each & every item as most are from my private collection assembled over the past 30+ years and have never before been offered for sale. Each piece is very special, of great quality, rare for its’ kind and worthy of any advanced collection. Thank You, Bernice Ellen. The item “HUGE ANTIQUE CHINESE EXPORT SHAGREENED STERLING SILVER TABLE BOX+5 TOE DRAGONS” is in sale since Sunday, October 16, 2016. This item is in the category “Antiques\Silver\Non-U.S. Silver\Asia”. The seller is “myprivatemuseum” and is located in Pomona, California. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Composition: Sterling Silver
- Maker: Chinese
- Type: Boxes
- Age: 1900-1940
- Materials: Solid Sterling Silver With Wood Liner
- Dimmensions: 7.75 Inches Long by 4″ Wide & 2.5″ Tall
- Origin: China
- Made For Export To;: United States Or England
- Special Attributes: Hand Texured “Shageen” Surface
- Design: High Relief Dragons
- Cental Monogram Plaque: Blank ~ Never Monogrammed
- Dragon Type: 5 Toed “Imperial”
- Circa: 1910-1920’s
- Base: Smooth With Signature
