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Subject:Help with Japanese Hallmark/Maker/Silversmith mark?
Posted By: liza Mon, Mar 15, 2010 IP: 67.79.169.251
This is for a very good friend of mine who owns the object pictured, it's very unique and possibly valuable.

Would anyone please help translate the symbols to English? all I know so far is on the back the 2nd symbol means silver. Below you will find links to large, clear pictures of the item in question.

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/6915/dscn0930p.jpg

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/4092/dscn0939.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/5517/dscn0932d.jpg

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/3149/dscn0931w.jpg

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/4899/dscn0934m.jpg

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/2781/dscn0933a.jpg

http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/96/dscn0937h.jpg

Subject:Re: Help with Japanese Hallmark/Maker/Silversmith mark?
Posted By: Guy P. Thu, Mar 18, 2010
The silver mark reads probably "ginshoku" (from the right to the left), indicating that the object is made from real silver.
On the front is written "enshun" which means literally "beautiful spring" - the girl is most likely the goddess Benten (one of the Seven Gods of Luck).

Guy.

Subject:Re: Help with Japanese Hallmark/Maker/Silversmith mark?
Posted By: Bill H Mon, Mar 22, 2010
Hello Liza,

I believe this item is Chinese, but it is difficult to fathom its utility without a better appreciation of size and what the rest of its backside looks like. Meanwhile it somewhat resembles a panel from a desk screen.

The two characters on the back read 'zu yin' which means 'silver of standard purity' which would be about .80 fine in Asia.

The two vertical stacks of characters at the top read in Mandarin pinyin from the right side down as 'Guo se chao han jiu' (A beauty of the realm at the imperial court drunk on wine) and 'Tian xiang ye ran yi' (The fragrance of heaven cloaked in shades of night).

The two characters at the bottom are 'chun yan' (romantic springtime).

The 'Beauty of the Realm' is Yang Guifei, the historical though now legendary principal concubine of Tang emperor Xuanzong (AD 685-762), who had her executed due to distrust of her family.

Guess everyone should be more polite with their in-laws, right?

Best regards,

Bill

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