Asian but where?

[Jag]

Handmade creamer and sugar. Nothing to go on but the design and the 800 mark. What do you think?

[dognose]

Hi Jag,

Yogya perhaps?

See: http://www.925-1000.com/a_yogya.html

Trev.

[amena]

What makes you think that it is Asian? These forms with the dragons were very popular in Italy too at the beginning of 900. They come in all sizes, from silver, silver plate and pewter.
Regards
Amena

[davidross]

While the slightly crude repousse work is reminiscent of later Yogya work, the legendary creature forming the handles does not look like the naga (with no legs) or dragon (with four) commonly seen as motifs in Indonesian art.

I think the creature in question is a wyvern (with two legs, etc). As far as I know, wyverns do not appear in Asian lore or decorative art, but have been featured in the legends and bestiaries of Europe since the Middle Ages. To my mind, this would suggest a European origin.

Regards
David R

[oel]

Hi David,

Talking dragons, may I ask you; are there noticeable differences between the number of claws possessed by a Japanese dragon and the number of claws possessed by a Chinese dragon?
I have read that if the dragon has more than three claws its Chinese; some authors differentiate Japanese ryū and Chinese long dragons by the number of claws on their feet. "In Japan," writes Gould (1896:248), "it is invariably figured as possessing three claws, whereas in China it has four or five, according as it is an ordinary or an Imperial emblem."
The two Chinese dragons, on my two pieces of Chinese export silver, one shows 3 claws but the other one has four claws. Am I right if I say; three claws could be Japanese or a Chinese made dragon but more than three claws the dragon is Chinese or better made by a Chinese master?
Could you please be so kind to enlighten us a little?


Regards,

Oel.

[davidross]

Hi Oel,

Thank you for re-introducing a very interesting topic from which many Forum users could benefit. Would you mind starting a new thread with images of your pieces?

This topic came up last year when discussing a mystery piece of Chinese silver that featured a three-clawed dragon, in defiance of the time-honoured rules you are right to mention.

See: viewtopic.php?f=13&t=28763

If you start a new thread, I will put any additional commentary there.

Cheers
David