An 18^th century Spanish Colonial silver twin handled bowl, Guatemala circa 1770

Of circular form with a rounded half-fluted base and a caulked rim, upon a skirting collet foot. The sides with cast and applied S scroll handles. The upper section with engraved decoration of rocaille C scroll vignettes infilled with naïve figures of animals, including a flock of waterfowl, a stag, a hound, also a hunter with a gun and hound, as well as another figure with a hound on a leash. Marked underneath with a chased, engraved and punched rosette with three foliate scrolls as well as engraved initials ligatured FV.

Length – 18.5 cm / 7.25 inches

Weight – 313 grams / 10.06 ozt

Collection of Anthony Aston Smith (1929-2010), bought from Kensington Goldsmiths Co at Kensington Antiques Fair, 28th August 1959 £15

A twin handled bowl with very similar engraved decoration and fluting was sold Christie’s London, 16 Nov 2017, Lot 443 (£5000, incl. premium)

A twin handled bowl with engraved scrolls was sold Christie’s London, 7 June 2011, lot 243 (£6,875 incl. premium)

A bowl with similar decoration and fluting was sold Christie’s London, 7 June 2011, lot 244 (£3,250 incl. premium)

One similar twin handled bowl was sold with another was sold Sotheby’s New York, 26 Oct 2012, lot 57 ($13,750 incl. premium)

Literature

Cristina Esteras Martin, La Plateria en el Reino de Guatemala, 1994