1870s English Imari / Sterling Silver Match Striker / Ashtray

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Description

This lovely Imari style, flow blue match strike is a bit of a mystery to us. The design is typical … Read more This lovely Imari style, flow blue match strike is a bit of a mystery to us. The design is typical of the the Japanese porcelain of the Arita region widely exported to Europe in the late 1700s onward. Continental porcelain houses started producing their own Imari-style items in the 1800s to provide this aesthetically popular chinaware to the Western markets. Without a maker's mark on the porcelain, it is impossible to say the exact origin or date of fabrication, but because of the sterling silver collar described below, we believe it to be English.

Not being well versed in British hallmarks, our research on the marks stamped in the sterling silver rim turned up mixed results and any potential buyer should satisfy him/herself as to the provenance. The rim contains 4 (somewhat) legible hallmarks and possibly a 5th illegible mark. The lion passant indicates British Sterling. The Assay office mark (where the silver content was certified) appears to be the uncrowned leopard mark of London. There is what looks to be an "H" suggesting a date of 1876., but we are not entirely certain of this reference. This is where the trail become murky. The 4th mark is a "C" encircling an "A"., a mark clearly identified by www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/ as that of Christopher Canner I, a silversmith of the early 1700's. We can think of two possible explanations for this clear disparity in dates: 1) the Georgian period attribution is in error; however, we can find no further reference to the C-A mark which clearly matches the one on this match strike collar. A second explanation is that the removable sterling rim is not original to this piece and is, in fact, of earlier fabrication. Due to the seamless fit of the rim and no explanation of what its original use would be, we do not think this is the case.

In summary, considering the styling of the porcelain, the fact that match strikers were very popular in the mid-to-late 1800's, and the three identifiable and period-consistent sterling hallmarks, we believe this to be an English transferware piece, in the Imari style, from the late 1800s.

Very good antique condition; the porcelain is excellent with no chips, no cracks, no crazing. Small underglaze fabrication flaw on the underside which is not visible when in use. The sterling silver rim has wear and dings consistent with age and use and is easily removed from the porcelain body. We leave it to the buyer to attach it more permanently or leave it as presented.

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