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

This oval  tazza was made in China and then imported by Edward & Sons of Glasgow.  Just occasionally we are lucky enough to find pieces with import marks.

The firm was established in 1838 by George Edward, they lasted 125 years until they were acquired by Mappin & Webb in 1963 (Culme, Directory of Gold & Silversmiths, page 136). They were a prestigious firm, they supplied the Freedom Casket awarded by the City of London to African explorer Stanley in 1887.  They were appointed to the crown

Over the years I have found several pieces of Chinese Export silver with import marks for Edwards & Sons – always of the finest quality and this tazza reflects this standard

Bamboo and dragons are worked within corded lorgnettes in intricate detail.  The bamboo motif has been chased and pierced on the oval foot

Bamboo symbolises strength , reslience , flexibility and longevity

Dragons symbolise symbolizes power, good fortune, and strength and are associated with auspicious traits like intelligence, ambition and charisma

I hate to use the word “awesome” but this is an awesome piece

The round melon  bodies of the pieces have been repousse worked with dragons.

In Chinese culture, the dragon is a potent symbol of power, strength, good fortune and prosperity.  The foreigner who commissioned this tea set was clearly hoping for all these auspicious wishes 

The bamboo motif has been used for the handles , finials and also on the rim of each piece.

Bamboo is a powerful symbol in many cultures, representing a range of positive qualities like strength , flexibility ( it bends in the wind and comes back), strength, resilience and good luck- so more auspicious wishes 

The sugar and cream retain the original gilding

This is very attractive tea set by the well known silversmith Luen Wo.  Do look on the lid of the tea pot – a dragon’s head.  I have never seen that before

To be used and displayed

We have managed to find quite a range of boxes.  The three in the photograph are just a sample!

The box in the centre is Japanese Export silver and is a jewllery box with the original velvet lining

The scene box is particularly fine work. Worked on the lid and sides each panel has a different and finely detailed scene

The dragon box is a good size and again the detail is very crisp

We have more – drop by to choose! and see the quality

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

The lid and sides are all worked with silver filigree and then overlaid with flowers.  The flowers are in turn decorated with fine enamel work.  These decorative flowers are set in shaped lorgnettes picked out in applied silver gilt

On the lid an oval piece of carved jade has been set in a braided reserve

The craftsman making this exquisite box must have spent hours working on all the detail.

Extra special

All the auspicious flower motifs are here- Bamboo for resilience, chrysanthemums that bloom through the frost, plum blossom for new beginnings, irises for plentifulness

Bamboo is the motif used for the stand and the handle and forms the finial.

The motifs are applIied to the body of the kettle and then additonal chasing has been used to augment the effect

The burner is particularly fine.

This is actually a tea kettle and would have been an extra part of the traditional three piece tea set – often for extra water – the burner would have been lit using oil and a wick to keep the water hot

Super weight and condition

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.