Early 18th-Century Chinese Export Tankard

Appraised on: July 30, 2005

Appraised in: Bismarck, North Dakota

Appraised by: David McCarron

Category: Decorative Arts

Episode Info: Bismarck, Hour 2 (#1011)

Originally Aired: April 17, 2006

IMAGE: 1 of 1  

Appraisal Video: (2:19)

GUEST: It was brought by my grandfather from Norway. My cousin who gave it to me said that it was in the attic as long as he could remember, since he was a child, and he's in his 80s now.

APPRAISER: And when did your grandfather bring it over?

GUEST: I believe he arrived in North Dakota in about 1886.

APPRAISER: Okay. What do you know about it?

GUEST: Well, the inscriptions on it are in Norwegian and I have a fourth cousin that came over from Norway and he translated it and it was to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Reformation, which was in 1517. So this, as far as I know, is dated October 31 of 1717.

APPRAISER: Okay, this is known as Chinese Imari. It's early 18th century, so the date is right and at the time these were beautiful, exotic, wonderful items, exported from China to Europe. This is silver, the cover and handle, and on the tankard or can, which is porcelain, we have beautiful floral and landscape reserves all around, and the silver top is Danish, made in Copenhagen, of that period, early 18th century, the hallmarks are here, indicating that. Then we have a coin here, with the inscriptions-- they were translated-- indicating that it was an early 18th-century commemorative of Luther's Reformation in the 16th century. And then, also here inside we have an inscription on the underside of the coin, indicating, again, all of this material. So we have a beautiful 18th-century Chinese export tankard or can with a European silver mount of the period. Now, it may have not been exactly that date. This is a grade of silver that's not sterling, but it's in the mid-.800s, so it's less. It's like 83% silver. Uh, there's a little chip here, but I think a good auction estimate is $3,000 to $5,000, and some of these have come to market and gone for quite a bit higher. And it's a beautiful tankard and it's a pleasure to see it. Thanks for bringing it in.