5.5" Chinese STERLING SILVER Vermeil Horse 171g Figurine Enamel Filigree Export

Description

Vintage ALL ORIGINAL and COMPLETE Chinese Sterling Silver Export Gilt Filigree Horse, 171 grams, Statue Enamel, Turquoise, Carnelian, Carved Wooden Stand, and Padded Green Silk CASE, 925 Marked
USA seller. Actual item shown. Shipping to the USA only. Shipped with insurance.
Complete and all original, a rarity with these complex figurines.
Height is 5.5”, length is 5 inches, width is 2” and weight of horse and stand is 171 grams or 5.49 troy ounces. It comes with a brocade silk-covered padded case with two bone latches. There is a lot of pure gold gilding over the sterling silver on this piece. It just glows, it's so shiny.
The belly of the horse is stamped “SILVER 925”. And the gilded sterling silver content is guaranteed, as is the authenticity of the gemstones. The patina of silver shimmering through the gold overlay indicates some age. Condition is excellent. I see no obvious losses or condition issues or repairs but please judge condition for yourself using the photos.
The exact age of this horse is unknown but I would call it vintage, created before 1970. The condition is truly excellent with some natural toning. It has a spectacular filigree mane and ears, delicate enamel work on the saddle and genuine turquoise and carnelian (red agate) gems dangling all around and imbedded into the horse and saddle.
These are sometimes called war horses or parade horses because they are decked out in all of their finery. But horses are a symbol of much more than war. They signal success. A Chinese famous saying goes, "When the Horses Arrive, Success is Assured." Many wealthy and successful Asian business people have images and symbols of horses in their offices and homes. And, of course, 2014 is the Year of the Horse in the Chinese Zodiac.
There are three types of vintage or antique Chinese Gold-Plated Silver Export Horse Figurines: Cloisonne enamel, Filigree, and Combination. This is a combination type because it has both filigree work and enamel work. In addition, the detail is amazing, from the engraving on the saddle to the delicate gilded silver reigns and stirrups. The horse is permanently mounted to a hand-carved wooden stand. It is perfectly balanced on only two of its four legs indicating action and movement. This is craftsmanship and artistic engineering.
This listing is for one figurine only. The final photo or photos show some of the other silver figurines that are being sold or have recently sold.
During 2020, I will be listing a huge collection of vintage and antique sterling silver figurines from all over the world, especially from nations like USA, China, India, and Mexico.
All of my listing photos, text and research are copyrighted. Copying is prohibited without permission of the seller.
About this item: China has a long tradition of creating beautiful objects covered in cloisonné and other forms of enamel work. During the 19
th
and 20
th
centuries, much of this had a silver base of at least 90% silver. Tourists loved these delicate beautiful realistic birds and animals that had been made with silver, enamel, and filigree silver. These figurines, boxes, and other objects are sometimes called Chinese Export Silver.
With the price of silver and labor always going up, the most modern of these figurines are often made of gold-plated and enameled base metals like copper and brass. The vintage and antique silver versions only become more and more scarce.
Silver Content: These silver enamel figurines are made from coin silver (90%) or sterling silver (92.5%) but are not always marked as such. Sometimes, you will find the word “SILVER” stamped into the design in an out of the way spot. For example, on birds, the word may be found on the underside of the tail feathers, if it is there at all. When these figurines were sold in pairs, sometimes only one of the two was marked.
About condition: The photos are taken from every angle to show you the wear on each figure. A small amount of enamel loss is to be expected, especially since most of these were made decades ago. Since enamel loss is common, it does not detract from value unless it is extreme enough to detract from the beauty of the item.
Caring for silver figurines: Typically, all you have to do is dust the figurine occasionally. Any un-enameled silver or silver that has been revealed by enamel loss is subject to toning over time. You can slow or stop this natural darkening process, if desired, by displaying your figurines in a clear display case or box that limits air circulation.
What is vermeil?
Vermeil (ver-MAY) is not the same thing at all as gold-filled or gold-plated. It is a layer of gold permanently fused to solid sterling silver,
precious metal on precious metal
. It will be stamped 925 for sterling. Also called gilded silver or gilt, it is a durable product that can be worn daily and passed on to the next generation. The gold won’t rub off or flake off.
Gold-filled (GF) and gold-plated (GP) is a plating of gold on a
base metal
, like copper. The former is more durable than the latter, but vermeil is much better than both.
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