Tibetan 19thC Antique Tea Bowl Stand and Cover or Dhakya Later Porcelain Bowl

An antique Sino-Tibetan embossed and chased white metal tea bowl stand and cover. Such cups and covers were used in Tibet by senior monks (Lamas) and aristocratic families usually for drinking tea. Some collectors may possibly refer to this item as a Dhakya set. The stand and cover are made of a low grade silver alloy and tests as such.

The stand or base is of stemmed form with the tapered cylindrical foot being chased and pierced with a band of stylised leaves. The open lotus flower shaped "saucer" is inset onto the tapered stem with the scalloped rim made to look like eight lotus petals. The "saucer" is chased with a scrolled leafy peony flower background and a meander, cloud and thunder pattern - yunwen or leiwen. (a "Greek" key style) inner border

The bowl cover or lid has also been copiously covered with engraved and repousse work and is formed in three tiers the top surmounted with a coral or polished stone bead handle or knob. The flat cover has the same scrolled leafy peony flower background and outer cloud and thunder pattern border as the stand. The two lower tiers each have lotus panel rectangular shaped cartouches. The lower one having four cartouches each with different Buddhist emblems or precious things. The middle tier has four bats in the cartouches and the third or top tier is decorated with a ribbed medallion and surmounted with the knob. 

Bats are a symbol of good luck in some Asian cultures, particularly in China where due to the homophony of the Chinese word fu for "bat", and fu for "prosperity and good fortune" the bat has become a symbol for good luck. The stand and lid are made of a white metal, silver alloy, it tests as a low grade silver. 

The porcelain bowl is not antique but a much later Chinese twentieth century Jingdezhen replacement primarily to show how the item should look however, it is the right size and fit to the stand. The bowl has a rice grain pattern, where a pierced design in the body has been filled with the glaze. The other decoration is a light cobalt blue underglaze printed and transferred design, the inner rim also includes a bat motif. The bowl has a capacity of over 150 ml.

This silver coloured alloy cup stand and cover was made in Tibet probably in the nineteenth century, although the style pre-dates that. The porcelain cup was made in China and is much later in date and has  been "married" to the stand.

The tea bowl is in good condition with no chips, cracks nor restoration. The stand and cover are in excellent antique condition without damage other than the usual minor signs of age and use.

Free UK and International postage with this item.

Tea Bowl Height 2 1/8 inches ( 5 cm)Tea Bowl Diameter 4 inches ( 10 cm)Bowl foot Diameter 3.925 inches ( 10 cm)Base Diameter 5 inches ( 12.7 cm)Overall Height 6 inches ( 15 cm)Weight 344 grammes unpackedWeight silver 189 grammes unpacked