Chinese Export Gilt Silver Brise Fan with Enamel and Filigree, 19th Century
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Qing Dynasty, 19th century
This exquisite 19th-century Chinese export brise fan is a masterwork of metalwork craftsmanship, showcasing the sophisticated combination of gilt silver filigree and enamel techniques.
Dating to the Qing Dynasty, the fan is constructed from multiple segments of finely worked silver filigree, heavily gilded to provide a lustrous golden finish. Both sides of the fan are intricately decorated with blooming floral motifs, which are highlighted with vibrant polychrome enamels in shades of yellow, orange, blue, and green. The mounts are further embellished with matching enamel detailing, reflecting the high artistic standards of Chinese export silver wares from this era.
Measuring 18.5 cm in length and weighing approximately 113.5 grams, the fan displays a delicate balance of technical precision and artistic elegance. This object serves as a notable example of the intricate decorative arts produced for international trade during the Qing period, utilizing complex openwork filigree structures combined with sophisticated enamel painting on metal surfaces.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Length
- 18.5 cm
- Weight
- 113.5 grams
- Material
- Gilt silver, enamel
Technical characteristics
- Construction
- Brise fan
- Decoration techniques
- Filigree, polychrome enameling
Design
- Motif
- Blooming flowers
- Colors
- Yellow, orange, blue, green
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.