Lot 5: Chinese Export Figural Silver Flatware Set 228 pcs

Exceptional Antique Chinese multi-motif .900 Silver flatware set, 228 pieces, service for 12, in fitted canteen drawers. This unusual service, dating from the late 19th to early 20th century, features 12 Chinese “characters” represented in each form (dinner knife, salad fork, etc.) so that each place setting can be made up of pieces all modeled as the same character or a suite comprising different characters. Included are: 24 dinner knives (9 3/4 in. L, stainless blades); 24 dinner forks (8 1/4 in. L); 12 dessert knives (8 in. L, stainless blades); 12 salad or dessert forks (7 in. L, three tines); 12 fish knives (7 7/8 in.L); 12 fish forks (7 1/4 in. L); 12 large tablespoons 8 1/4 in. L); 12 place or Continental soup spoons (7 1/4 in. L); 12 dessert or ice cream spoons (5 3/4 in. L); 12 ice cream forks; 12 teaspoons; 12 small teaspoons or coffee spoons; 12 seafood/oyster forks; 12 seafood picks; 12 knife rests; 1 Fish serving fork; 1 fish serving slice; 1 cake/pastry server; 1 pie server; 1 ice cream server; 1 salad serving fork; 1 salad serving spoon; 3 graduated solid serving spoons; 1 gravy ladle; 1 butter serving knife; 2 small serving knives; 1 small serving fork; 1 small pierced serving spoon;  1 cheese spade; 1 pair ice tongs; 1 pr sugar tongs; 1 roast carving knife; 1 roast carving fork; 1 bone holder (carver’s assistant); 2 toothpick holders. Note: The majority of the knife blades are stainless and etched with the name “Thine Seng” – a luxury goods store in Hanoi,Vietnam, operating circa 1930s. Aside from the knife blades (which may be 1930s era replacements), none of the flatware is marked, but the silver XRF tests at or above .900 fineness. The tines and bowls of the forks, bowls of spoons, and most of the bladed serving pieces are solid (.900) silver, but the decorative figural ends are all filled, preventing us from being able to accurately assess the true weight of the  silver in this set.  The approximate gross combined weight of all items, including items with filled handles but excluding the items with stainless blades (the individual knives and the carving set) is 337.28 oz troy.

PROVENANCE:

Private Middle Tennessee collection, acquired July 30, 1995 from Butterfields & Butterfields Auction, San Francisco. (A copy of the sales receipt is available to the winning bidder). According to oral history passed along at the time of that sale, this set was one of two sets made in the late 19th-early 20th century by a Chinese silversmith living in the house of an American General and his wife, living in China, for their personal and entertaining use. One of the sets was melted to be used for bullets during a military conflict. This set survived, was brought back to the U.S., and descended to a family in Arizona, before being consigned to auction in San Francisco in 1995. 

CONDITION:

All items overall very good condition with some light use wear. Knife blades may be 1930s era replacements. Note: the Asparagus Fork, mentioned in the original sales receipt, is no longer present, but all other silver pieces are accounted for. The outer case that originally housed these drawers is no longer present, only the drawers. Optional: Drawers may be discarded for shipping. (Drawers not included in the reported weight).