According to author Adrien von Ferscht the ‘cloud and thunder” motif as depicted on the short foot rim of the present bowl is derived from pictographs from the Shang Dynasty (1600 to 1046 BCE) and is generally held to have been the forerunner of the Greek Key pattern. This motif originally represented life giving rain and abundance, but has since simplified to represent longevity.
We are grateful to Adrien von Ferscht for identifying the artisan workshop. For further information please see Adrien von Ferscht, Chinese Export Silver 1785-1940 – The Definitive Collectors’ Guide, 4th Edition, Glasgow and Beijing, January 2015.
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Chinese and Japanese Export Silver Online: Property from the Collection of Myrna and Bernard Posner
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