A Pair of Chinese Pewter Encased Enamel Lobed Bowls

Qing dynasty (1644-1912), 19th century, two pewter-encased bowls, the first hexagonal shaped and the second lobed flower shaped, both pewter exteriors are incised with calligraphic inscriptions in cleric and seal script as well as auspicious flora and bamboo decoration, the interior and underside of the foot of each have a crackled white enamel surface.

Larger 7 x 7 1/4 x 2 7/8 in.; smaller 6 3/4 x 6 1/4 x 2 1/2 in.

From the Collection of Helen Rindlbacher Ward, and by descent
Helen Rindlbacher Ward was born in Shanghai in 1936 to German parents, her father was one of the few foreigners who worked at the Chinese Aluminium Rolling Mills, Ltd company. Her family returned to Germany in 1955, and Helen moved to the United States in 1965 after marrying an Army officer. The Chinese artworks in this collection were all acquired in Shanghai during the 1930s-1950s.

Both with surface marks to pewter; the larger bowl with cracking and fleabites to interior surface; the smaller bowl with small area of pewter loss at rim, some staining to interior.