SASSOON: A Golden Legacy
SASSOON: A Golden Legacy
A CHINESE EXPORT SILVER-GILT AND ENAMEL MINIATURE ESTHER SCROLL CASE, MARKED GOTHIC K, MID TO LATE 19TH CENTURY
Auction Closed
December 17, 05:06 PM GMT
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
A CHINESE EXPORT SILVER-GILT AND ENAMEL MINIATURE ESTHER SCROLL CASE, MARKED GOTHIC K, MID TO LATE 19TH CENTURY
hexagonal case decorated with panels of chased bamboo alternating with prunus, enameled in turquoise and dark red, the domed top enameled to match, hardstone bead finial, "bamboo" form handle, the pull secured by two latches, fitted with a scroll of Esther, ink on parchment, with a silk lead panel
marked on base Gothic K and Chinese character
length 7 7/8 in.; 20 cm
height of scroll 2 3/4 in.; 7 cm
Adrien von Ferscht has linked the Gothic K mark with a retail silversmith active in Canton between 1840 and 1875. The presence of the mark on the Sassoon Torah tiks of 1893 (lot 38) suggests the firm continued later in the century. Mr. von Ferscht also suggests that the usual accompanying Chinese character may be the "chopmark" of the artisan (see Chinese-Export-silver.com, post of December 5, 2012). The Gothic K mark appeared on a very similar Chinese Esther scroll case sold Sotheby's, New York, December 19, 2012, lot 21.