Enamel on metal bottle

[Rube]

Hi Everyone,

I'd like to share another couple bottles today.  This one, measures 63mm w/o glass stopper, is urn shaped and has red and yellow enamel in the shape of longevity symbols ( I think) between stippled silver.  I'm going to call it a Tibetan bottle, but
am not sure if that's correct, and as always, appreciate any feedback regarding it, and its dating! It was purchased in Hong Kong in 1973.
Personally, I like the shape, and filigree details on this one.

Cheers,

Rube.

[Joey Silver / Si Zhouyi 義周司]

Dear Rube,

     I'm being totally honest when I say that I've never seen one like it.
Usually, that is the 'kiss of death' in Chinese art. EVERYTHING tends to be variation on a theme.

     But it looks 'right' to me. I think it has to be 19th C. or earlier.

     The white, yellow and metal decoration looks like 3 ears of grain in a red ribbon, to my eye.

    I would definitely say that it is Tibetan, or Manchu, or Mongolian, ie., from the non-Han Chinese populations north and west of the Han Chinese heartland.
Best,
Joey

   

[George]

Like Joey, I also have never seen before..

Wonderful, and interesting bottle. Thanks for sharing it !

[Steven]

Thanks for sharing Rube!

That is definitely a interesting piece.

I personally think the bottle might newer than it looks like, the symbol or the character on the sliver stripe is "丰feng" which means bumper harvest ，the symbol on the back are wheat which also mean bumper harvest,. But the 丰 is a simplify character which was widely used after 1950, before that " 豐feng" the traditional Chinese character  was the one used widely. I am not saying that there is no chance it can be dated before 1950, we still can see some simplify characters were used before 1950, but not so often, and the scheme "bumper harvest" is not a popular scheme for 19th C.

So overall, I will date it 1950-1970. Just my 2 cents worth.

Anyway, A very interesting bottle, and thank you for sharing.

Best,

Steven

[Rube]

George, Joey, and Steven,

Thanks again for comments regarding this bottle!  I agree with you Joey and George, about the uniqueness, I've never seen anything like it. Given the detail, I thought it might be old.  And Steven, so much for me trying to identify symbols of longevity, I thought it was a shou character, and lotus blossoms!  Glad to know about the characters and symbols for bumper harvest, and all potential dating.  I think there might be a marking on the bottom, so I'll ask my brother to remove the label and shoot a new pic of the base.

Cheers,

Rube.

[Joey Silver / Si Zhouyi 義周司]

Dear Rube,
 
    I will bow to Steven's superior knowledge of China and Chinese calligraphy.
And anyway, I've really not ever seen one like it, so I've not anything in my mental database with which to compare it.

    But it is still an interesting and historic bottle.

    Best,
Joey

[Rube]

Joey,
I just sent my brother a text asking for another picture of the base minus the label... it says SILVER!
Cheers,
Rube

[Wattana]

Hi Rube,

I too cannot place this bottle in any category known to me, which makes it hard to pass any comment. But I suspect Steven is close to the mark.

Tom

[Joey Silver / Si Zhouyi 義周司]

Dear Rube,

     Does it say SILVER in English, or in Chinese?  If it is in English,
Steven is right. If in Chinese characters, it is possibly a little earlier than he reckoned, though not as early as I originally thought.
Irrespective, I'd be really impressed if it read, "ZILBERBOGEN"! 

  It's German for a bow of silver or a hill of silver; it was our surname in Poland from the late 18th to the 20th C. Then my late father came to Canada in May, 1934, and was told to choose between being 'renamed' SILVER, or be shipped back to Poland. Three guesses which he picked. Thank G-D it was my daddy and not me. I'd have said "F*** you", and been sent back... 

Best,
Joey

[Rube]

Joey,

That's hilarious!  It is stamped SILVER just like that.  So, I think Steven is right, too.

Cheers,

Rube.

[Wattana]

Three guesses which he picked.

Dear Joey,

Only three guesses? - That's a tough one.....   

Tom