Dragon-handled Chinese Silver Tea Set with Provenance
Late 19th century Chinese silver export ware three piece tea service, circular shape with dragon handles finials and body decoration (teapot hinge detached, sugar bowl lid with splitting, two pieces marked to the base. Provenance: from the collection of Surgeon Commander William Rhodes Harrison, possibly given as a gift from the Imperial Palace in relation to the original lease of Hong Kong.
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- Finial - An architectural decoration, found on the upper parts of of an object. On furniture they are usually found on pediments, canopies and shelf supports. On smaller ceramic or silver items, such as spoons, they may decorate the top of the item itself, or the lid or cover where they provide a useful handle for removal.
Finials have a variety of shapes and forms. They may be urn-shaped, baluster shaped round or spiral, but usually taper into an upper point. Many real life shapes may also be used as finials, such as pineapples, berries, pinecones, buds, lotus and acorns. Sometimes animals such as a lion are depicted, or fish and dolphins.
This item has been included into following indexes:
- Chinese silver
