A salver is a flat heavy tray of silver, other metal or glass used for carrying or serving glasses, cups, and dishes at a table, or for the presenting of a letter or card by a servant.

In a royal or noble household the fear of poisoning led to the custom of tasting the food or beverage before it was served to the master and his guests; this was known as the assay of meat and drink, and in Spanish was called salva.

The verb salvar means to preserve from risk, from the Latin salvare, to save.
The term salva was also applied to the dish or tray on which the food or drink was presented after the tasting process.

This salver has  fierce dragon engraved on the plate of the salver against a lightly hammered background

The border has four more dragons appled to again the lightly hammered surface

In Chinese culture, five dragons symbolize different aspects of the world and are often associated with Feng Shui.

They can represent the five directions (North ,South ,East, West and Centre). Also the five elements (earth, water , fire, wood and metal) 

The very edge of the border has been worked with the bamboo motif –a symbol of virtue, representing virtues like honesty, humility, and loyalty

And remembering the original use for salvers – a great tasting plate!

Fine condition

Made for the man about town around 100 years ago , its classic form and quality makes it the perfect gift for the man about town today

The oval shape has a removable cup – so the man about town can share?

Both the top and the bottom of the flask are decorated with an applied four clawed dragon

Dragons symbolise power, wisdom, and prosperity.  In this case the dragons are four clawed.  Five claws were reserved for only the Emperor and four claws were for important mandarins in the imperial court.  For some reason the pesky foreigners also rated four claws sometimes  as is the case in this hip flask

Great fun and very rare!

The handles are worked with the chrysanthemum motif. Chrysanthemums are generally symbolic of longevity, joy, optimism and good health. 

The solid silver set ( the handles are not filled as they would be in western silver) were clearly made for serving fish but could be used to serve meats or pizza or …?

This sturdy spoon has been crafted with care.

The round bowl has a repousse worked dragon against a mat background. Dragons represent power, good luck, wisdom and strength  

The handle has used the bamboo motif.  Bamboo is a symbol of strength, resilience, and flexibility.

A perfect wedding gift but also what a great addition to the dining table

Cast dragons form the bottom of the pieces and the straight columns are also pierced and repousse worked dragons – this time cavorting in the clouds

Dragons traditionally symbolize potent and auspicious powers, particularly control over water, rainfall, typhoons, and floods.

The cup has detailed tranquil scenes repousse worked and stands on a gnarled plum blossom stem

This goblet was a tennis prize presented for a doubles competition at the Kowloon Lawn Tennis in 1907- a world that has disappeared … the lawn is for sure a high rise building and no way are you going to be presented with a finely worked silver goblet as a tennis prize

An interesting gift for a keen tennis player…

Sterling silver vinaigrettes are small, decorative boxes that were used whilst travelling as a more accessible and practical way of carrying perfume and scents rather than in large glass bottles or vials. The perfume or aromatic vinegar would be contained within these boxes soaked in a sponge.

The Chinese Export silver vinaigrette in the centre is particularly unusual – a rare piece.  The lid, base and sides are closely worked with different scenes.  The interior gilded grill is perfect condition.

The whole vinaigrette retains much of original overall gilding

The silver vinaigrette in the box is also unusual.   It dates from 1828 – almost two hundred years old and is still in its original box ! – obviously a much cared for piece

Note the fine work on the grill in the third vinaigrette – so small and yet so perfect.

For the collector it is essential that the inner grill is in perfect condition

The straight columns of the candlesticks as well as the bases are worked with flowering chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemums generally symbolize longevity, fidelity, joy and optimism.  They bloom through the frost

These candlesticks by the “go to” silversmith, Wang Hing , have removable sconces – very much in the western style

Unlike western candlesticks these ones are not filled – all solid silver

Fine condition

The repousse worked border has alternate panels of plum blossom with birds ( for new beginnings )  bamboo with birds ( for resilience) , peonies for happiness and wealth and sea creatures ( symbolising just about everything else!)

The plate of the salver  has eight engraved segments radiating from  a round centre reserve.

Each segment tells a different story

My favourite is the snake and the frog  but there are cranes ( that mate for life ) and seers contemplating under the pine trees.  One segment seems specially for a gardener

The craftsman did the most amazing  job