This finely decorated silver basket shows various silverwork techniques. The rim of the basket features openwork panels of flowers, fruits, fishes and shrimps followed by engraved geometric patterns on the background. The inner repoussé panels depict flowers with various Chinese auspicious animals and symbols such as a pair of calabash, tortoises, fishes, butterflies, a lizard, a mythical Qilin, and an eel. The exterior repoussé flowers extended its petals to form the feet of the basket.The production of Chinese export silver extends from the 18th to mid 20th century. Early Chinese export silver were mere copies from European models and decorated with European motifs. Subsequently, due to increasing awareness and popular demand from foreign patrons, local craftsmen began to introduce traditional Chinese decoration. High quality workmanship at a low labour cost added greatly to the demand and appeal for such a market.
