A very pretty late-Victorian silver dish ring featuring
Oriental
scenes of Eastern figures around a large arched wall; a
genie, a
bird
and a dog; further decorated with various pierced and
chased
scrolls and
flowers. With a blue glass liner.
The original
dish rings
date from around 1700 and were used for standing hot
dishes
or bowls
on the dining room table without damaging the wood
surface. They
were especially popular in Ireland from the 1740s, when
silversmiths
became more imaginative in the decoration around the
sides.
Oriental
themes were common, especially after the rediscovery of
Chinoiserie
patterns from 1750. Around 1890 - 1920, many first-rate
reproductions were
made, often in a heavier gauge of silver than the
originals. Most
of
these later dish ring makers were Irish, but in this case,
our dish
ring
was made by a very prestigious London
firm who specialised in high quality
reproductions.
Made
in
London
in 1899 by D & J Wellby.
Diameter of base: 7 3/4 ins
(19.5 cm)
Height: 3 1/4 ins (8 cm)
Weight: 15 oz (465 g)
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