{"id":4462290632794,"title":"Antique Chinese Silver Spittoon (Thookadaan\/Peekdaan) - C. 1820","handle":"antique-chinese-silver-spittoon-thookadaan-peekdaan-c-1820","description":"This antique silver double bell form spittoon has been chased and engraved with panels of grapes and vine leaves over a ring punched background. It is believed to have been made in China for the Indian export market, where spittoons of this shape were popular during the 18th and 19th centuries. There are many examples, including a bidri ware double bell spittoon dating to this period, which is held within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. To the underside of the base is an unusual silver mark, a monogram within a shield-shaped cartouche, containing the letters T and R (or R \u0026amp; T). The letters are of European style and superimposed. This is believed to be the retailer’s mark. Unfortunately, we have not been able to identify this as yet, although our research continues.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe upper and lower parts of the spittoon are of near identical design save that the lower part is slightly larger than the upper part. There are six panels of ornamentation on each bell, separated by plain silver borders. Whilst the upper cup is open, the lower part has been neatly and carefully ‘closed’ with silver sheet at the base, so that it forms a container to receive the spittle. At the point where the two bells join, an opening in the base of the upper cup funnels deposits into the container below.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn Asia, spittoons are usually associated with the chewing of the areca or betel nut. Betel chewing was widespread in Asia and popular in China, South Asia and Southeast Asia for at least 2,000 years. The betel ceremony held an important place in social and formal etiquette including court life. Betel sets comprised an array of objects which were needed to hold the various ingredients and tools used to prepare the betel quid and often included a spittoon. These sets were made in a wide range of materials from simple baskets and wood through to elaborate examples in silver and gold The quality of the betel set announced the owner’s social status with gold sets often reserved for the use of the ruler and court and silver for the next highest strata in society. In some Southeast Asian cultures, contracts, including marriage contracts, were sealed by the two parties partaking in betel.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis spittoon differs from most Indian examples in that the bells have been made in the shape of a flower and show strong Chinese influence. Flower shaped wine cups were popular in China during the Kangxi dynasty and cups of this shape are sometimes referred to as magnolia cups. The grape and vine pattern was used in both traditional Indian and Chinese art. In China, the use of grape and vine ornament dates back at least as far as the Tang dynasty (618 – 907 AD) and there are many examples from that time where grapes and vines were used to ornament bronze, gilt bronze and precious metal objects. In Chinese culture, the grape and vine motif symbolises abundance, fecundity and heirs’. It is probable that this spittoon was made in China for the Indian market or possibly by Chinese craftsmen working in India.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eProvenance:- UK art market \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDimensions:- Height 14 cms, Width 12.5 cms\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWeight:- 430 grammes\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReferences:-\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMetropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Accession Number: 19.135.39\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChinese Art, A Guide to Motifs and Visual Imagery, Patricia Bjaaland Welch, Tuttle Publishing, Singapore 2008\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLot 916, Christie’s New York, Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 22nd and 23rd March 2018","published_at":"2019-12-13T00:46:20+00:00","created_at":"2019-12-13T01:02:57+00:00","vendor":"Joseph Cohen Antiques","type":"Spittoon","tags":["Chinese Export Silver","Sold Archive"],"price":0,"price_min":0,"price_max":0,"available":false,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":31593124692058,"title":"Default Title","option1":"Default Title","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"JC-SPIT-06783","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":true,"featured_image":null,"available":false,"name":"Antique Chinese Silver Spittoon (Thookadaan\/Peekdaan) - C. 1820","public_title":null,"options":["Default Title"],"price":0,"weight":0,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/Antique_Chinese_Silver_Spittoon_-_Thookadaan_Peekdaan_-_C1820.jpg?v=1581870603","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/Chinese_Antique_Silver_Spittoon_-_Thookadaan_Peekdaan_-_C1820.jpg?v=1581870628","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/Antique_Chinese_Silver_Spittoon_-_Thookadaan_Peekdaan_-_China_For_Indian_Market.jpg?v=1581870644","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/Chinese_Antique_Silver_Spittoon_-_Thookadaan_Peekdaan_-_China_For_Indian_Market_-_C1820.jpg?v=1581870663","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/Antique_Chinese_Silver_Spittoon_-_Thookadaan_Peekdaan.jpg?v=1581870685","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/Antique_Chinese_Silver_Spittoon_-_Thookadaan_Peekdaan_-_China_For_Indian_Market_-_C1820.jpg?v=1581870713","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/Antique_Chinese_Silver_Spittoon_-_Thookadaan_Peekdaan_-_China_For_Indian_Market_-_Thookadaan_Peekdaa_-_C1820.jpg?v=1581870732","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/Antique_Chinese_Silver_Spittoon_-_Thookadaan_Peekdaan_-_C1820_-_China_For_Indian_Market_-_Thookadaan_Peekdaa.jpg?v=1581870750"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/Antique_Chinese_Silver_Spittoon_-_Thookadaan_Peekdaan_-_C1820.jpg?v=1581870603","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":"Antique Chinese Silver Spittoon - 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Thookadaan Peekdaan","id":6731247222874,"position":5,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.001,"height":767,"width":768,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/Antique_Chinese_Silver_Spittoon_-_Thookadaan_Peekdaan.jpg?v=1581870685"},"aspect_ratio":1.001,"height":767,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/Antique_Chinese_Silver_Spittoon_-_Thookadaan_Peekdaan.jpg?v=1581870685","width":768},{"alt":"Antique Chinese Silver Spittoon - Thookadaan Peekdaan - China For Indian Market - C1820","id":6731248533594,"position":6,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":768,"width":768,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/Antique_Chinese_Silver_Spittoon_-_Thookadaan_Peekdaan_-_China_For_Indian_Market_-_C1820.jpg?v=1581870713"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":768,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/Antique_Chinese_Silver_Spittoon_-_Thookadaan_Peekdaan_-_China_For_Indian_Market_-_C1820.jpg?v=1581870713","width":768},{"alt":"Antique Chinese Silver Spittoon - Thookadaan Peekdaan - China For Indian Market - Thookadaan Peekdaa - C1820","id":6731249090650,"position":7,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":768,"width":768,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/Antique_Chinese_Silver_Spittoon_-_Thookadaan_Peekdaan_-_China_For_Indian_Market_-_Thookadaan_Peekdaa_-_C1820.jpg?v=1581870732"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":768,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/Antique_Chinese_Silver_Spittoon_-_Thookadaan_Peekdaan_-_China_For_Indian_Market_-_Thookadaan_Peekdaa_-_C1820.jpg?v=1581870732","width":768},{"alt":"Antique Chinese Silver Spittoon - Thookadaan Peekdaan - C1820 - China For Indian Market - Thookadaan Peekdaa","id":6731250729050,"position":8,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":768,"width":768,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/Antique_Chinese_Silver_Spittoon_-_Thookadaan_Peekdaan_-_C1820_-_China_For_Indian_Market_-_Thookadaan_Peekdaa.jpg?v=1581870750"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":768,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/Antique_Chinese_Silver_Spittoon_-_Thookadaan_Peekdaan_-_C1820_-_China_For_Indian_Market_-_Thookadaan_Peekdaa.jpg?v=1581870750","width":768}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"This antique silver double bell form spittoon has been chased and engraved with panels of grapes and vine leaves over a ring punched background. It is believed to have been made in China for the Indian export market, where spittoons of this shape were popular during the 18th and 19th centuries. There are many examples, including a bidri ware double bell spittoon dating to this period, which is held within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. To the underside of the base is an unusual silver mark, a monogram within a shield-shaped cartouche, containing the letters T and R (or R \u0026amp; T). The letters are of European style and superimposed. This is believed to be the retailer’s mark. Unfortunately, we have not been able to identify this as yet, although our research continues.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe upper and lower parts of the spittoon are of near identical design save that the lower part is slightly larger than the upper part. There are six panels of ornamentation on each bell, separated by plain silver borders. Whilst the upper cup is open, the lower part has been neatly and carefully ‘closed’ with silver sheet at the base, so that it forms a container to receive the spittle. At the point where the two bells join, an opening in the base of the upper cup funnels deposits into the container below.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn Asia, spittoons are usually associated with the chewing of the areca or betel nut. Betel chewing was widespread in Asia and popular in China, South Asia and Southeast Asia for at least 2,000 years. The betel ceremony held an important place in social and formal etiquette including court life. Betel sets comprised an array of objects which were needed to hold the various ingredients and tools used to prepare the betel quid and often included a spittoon. These sets were made in a wide range of materials from simple baskets and wood through to elaborate examples in silver and gold The quality of the betel set announced the owner’s social status with gold sets often reserved for the use of the ruler and court and silver for the next highest strata in society. In some Southeast Asian cultures, contracts, including marriage contracts, were sealed by the two parties partaking in betel.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis spittoon differs from most Indian examples in that the bells have been made in the shape of a flower and show strong Chinese influence. Flower shaped wine cups were popular in China during the Kangxi dynasty and cups of this shape are sometimes referred to as magnolia cups. The grape and vine pattern was used in both traditional Indian and Chinese art. In China, the use of grape and vine ornament dates back at least as far as the Tang dynasty (618 – 907 AD) and there are many examples from that time where grapes and vines were used to ornament bronze, gilt bronze and precious metal objects. In Chinese culture, the grape and vine motif symbolises abundance, fecundity and heirs’. It is probable that this spittoon was made in China for the Indian market or possibly by Chinese craftsmen working in India.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eProvenance:- UK art market \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDimensions:- Height 14 cms, Width 12.5 cms\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWeight:- 430 grammes\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReferences:-\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMetropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Accession Number: 19.135.39\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChinese Art, A Guide to Motifs and Visual Imagery, Patricia Bjaaland Welch, Tuttle Publishing, Singapore 2008\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLot 916, Christie’s New York, Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 22nd and 23rd March 2018"}