AN EXPORT SILVER REPOUSSÉ CIGAR BOX AND COVER, TONG YI MARK, LATE QING DYNASTY
China, c. 1870-1920. Of rectangular form, finely chased and embossed on a ring-punched ground to the top of the cover with four warriors on horseback engaged in a fierce chase along grassy paths amid pine and maple trees, above bands of squirrels and grapevines to the sides of the cover. Furthermore, each side of the box with peasant scenes including a hunter carrying his rifle, a herder playing the flute, two fishermen in a boat, and an ox pulling plows.


Inscriptions:
To the base with a two-character shop mark, ‘Tong Yi’. This mark is not yet registered in any of the relevant silver data bases, so it must have come from a small shop, which probably existed only for a short period of time.


Provenance:
English trade.

Condition:
Good condition with expected old wear, mostly to the inside. Some tarnishing, light scratches, small dents and losses, minor traces of soldering to the box’s interior. Sections of the inner encasement have slightly loosened and/or warped over time. For this reason, the box still closes very well, but not hermetically.


The inside of the box
is completely encased with silver sheets, thus the backsides of the repoussé work cannot be accessed. This encasement is necessary for the box to close well, in order to keep the cigars humid for an extended period of time.

Weight: 939 g
Dimensions: Size 17.3 x 11.5 x 7 cm


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s London, 16 May 2018, lot 150
Price: GBP 4,000 or approx.
EUR 6,300
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A silver ‘dragon’ box, Qing dynasty, 19th century
Expert remark: Compare the related form and the decorative band of grapevines albeit with a central motif of dragons. Note the similar length (19.2 cm).


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 22 August 2019, lot 62
Price: USD 6,875 or approx.
EUR 7,500
adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Chinese Export Silver Cigar Box, Mark of Foheng, circa 1900
Expert remark: Compare the related form and repoussé decor. Note the length of 23.5 cm.




清末刀馬人物錘鍱雪茄銀蓋盒

中國，約1870-1920年。長方蓋盒。蓋子上浮雕四個騎馬的武士在林間小道上烈的追逐。上方是松鼠和葡萄藤紋飾。盒子四面分別有人物場景，如農民田中耕地、獵人狩獵、牧人牧牛、漁夫撒網捕魚。


款識：
同益


來源：
英國古玩交易

品相：
狀況良好，有磨損，主要是內部。局部失去光澤、輕微劃痕、小凹痕和損失，盒子內部有輕微焊接痕跡。內殼局部稍微鬆動和/或翹曲。盒子關閉得很好。

盒子內部完全用銀片包裹，盒子密封，以便使雪茄保持適當濕度。

重量：939 克
尺寸：17.3 x 11.5 x 7 厘米


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：倫敦蘇富比，2018年5月16日，lot 150
價格：GBP 4,000（相當於今日
EUR 6,300
）
描述：清十九世纪銀製雲龍戲珠紋蓋盒《東粵大興造》款
專家評論：比較相近的外形、葡萄藤裝飾，但中間飾有龍紋。請注意相似的長度 (19.2厘米)。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得， 2019年8月22日，lot 62
價格：USD 6,875（相當於今日
EUR 7,500
）
描述：約1900年出口銀製菸盒
專家評論：比較相近的外形和錘鍱。請注意長23.5厘米。