Page 191 - Bonhams ASIAN ART, November 1 2021 London

548

548
A GILDED SILVER NIELLO TEAPOT AND COVER AND A
HINGED BOX AND COVER
Siam, 19th century
The cylindrical form teapot fitted with a liner, a split hinged loop
handle to the shoulder and spout stopper attached to a chain, set on
four bud feet, decorated overall with a dense floral and foliate design;
the rectangular box with confronting dragons to the hinged cover on
a similarly elaborate floral pattern ground. The teapot: 17.8cm (7in)
high excluding the handle (3).

£2,000 - 3,000
HK$21,000 - 32,000
CNY18,000 - 26,000
Provenance: Accompanying hand-written note stating that the
teapot was presented to Admiral Sir Frederick L. Maitland KCB, by
the King of Siam in 1838.

A very similar example is in the Smithsonian Institution in the United
States and was a gift of Siam’s King Mongkut (Rama IV) in 1856
to the US President as part of the Harris Treaty with the United
States. The Siamese Court gave gifts according to the rank of the
recipient and that rank was based on Siamese equivalents. The niello
technique is thought to have been introduced to Thailand either by
the Portuguese or the Persians. Traders from both countries had an
early presence in the Kingdom. Niello work became a speciality of the
southern Thai city of Nakhon Si Thammarat.

549 *
A SET OF TWELVE SILVER DESSERT KNIVES AND FORKS
Marked LU for Luen Wo Shanghai, late end 19th/early 20th century
Each of the twenty-four handles are hand chased in relief with
different designs of figures in traditional costume amidst architecture
and landscape, the knife blades and forks also further engraved with 549
a variety of fruiting and flowering plants including; finger citron, peach
and banana. The knives 19.5cm (7 5/8in) long (24).
£1,500 - 2,000
HK$16,000 - 21,000
CNY13,000 - 18,000

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue. ASIAN ART | 189