Antique Chinese Cup in Solid Silver and Enamels, Ca. 1900.

Exotic and nice Chinese cup made of solid silver, with decoration of embossed animals enameled in different colors. This cup is an antique piece which dates from the late 19th century. The value of the precious metal it is made of joins with its ancient age and its peculiar beauty. The cup comes with a glass that can be inserted into it and fits perfectly into the piece. It is a very special and exotic item, quite different from other Western pieces of the like. The outside of the cup, which has an octagonal shape, is profusely decorated with embossed motives depicting various animals. All of them are brightly enameled in blue, green and yellow. At the top and the bottom, under the edge and over the base, we can see two fringes with embossed dragons. In Chinese culture, these animals are related with good luck. The handle is one of the most beautiful parts of the cup, carved in the shape of an open-mouthed dragon. Riding the dragon we can see a colorful chameleon. The rest of the piece is decorated with a monkey, a horse, a bull, a long-necked bird, antelopes and a sitting man who is holding a parasol. On one of the cups sides there is also what seems to be an anagram composed of various interlaced letters. If we turn this piece upside down, we will discover that the base has a central circular hole through which we can see the transparent glass. Here we can also see two Chinese monograms stamped on the silver. The cup is highly attractive and which will surely delight any lover of rare Oriental antiques. Measurements: 105 mm width x 95 mm height.