Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries

Hello! I was hoping someone could help me figure out what this object is? I think it might be a candlestick holder, but there is a seal on the bottom inside of one of the ends. Does anyone know what the seal means?

Thanks in advance!

The form is based on that of an ancient bronze "Gu" (beaker), originally a vessel for drinking or libations, I believe. This one, possibly dating to around 1900 or a bit later, apparently is made of pewter, a tin-based alloy. It could have been used as a vase or anything else its shape accommodated, I suppose, but before engaging in any toasts, beware the fact that some older pewter also contains lead in its metals mix.

The mark has in its middle a stack of large characters for the name of the maker, Yan Yihe (顏義和), below which is the rubric "Old Shop" (Lao Dian - 老店), meant to assure customers they're buying the real article. At the left, the two characters "Ornamental Metal" (Dian Tong - 點銅), a term that has become virtually synonymous with pewter. Finally, on the right, the shop location, Chaoyang (潮陽), a district of the coastal Guangdong provincial city of Shantou (old Swatow).

Best regards,

Bill H.

Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries |