posted 12-10-2008 10:26 AM            

This item was at an auction that I recently attended (It was also online I'm sorry to say.)

It was listed as a wine taster, probably continental with no markings and with a fairly low estimate.

I knew that this piece was something very good, but I was not sure just how good and what it exactly was. (Early American?)

The adrenaline was flowing with the thought of possibly coming out with a sleeper.
Alas this was not to be. It opened and closed with one bid from the internet at ten times the estimate.

After the hammer came down the auctioneer said something about this bidder was going to very happy as this amount was much lower than they were ready to go.

This is an interesting well crafted piece that I know nothing about.

Does anybody out there have any ideas at all?

posted 12-10-2008 01:34 PM            

I did just wonder whether there was a 13th star alongside the axe-head of the fasces? But if so, it doesn't seem to be five pointed.

And it seems odd to me that if suspended on its chain all the decoration would be upside down.

posted 12-10-2008 01:46 PM            

I seriously doubt it is a wine taster -- the chain clasp would make no sense and the overall shape would be awkward to use. The decoration is certainly enthusiastic, but not particularly well designed or modeled. The eagle (assuming that is what it supposed to be) looks more like a vulture and seems to have one too many wings.

posted 12-10-2008 01:48 PM            

That said, I think it is an early piece of silver, and I'd bet that the nautical theme of the ship and ropes is not coincidental. To what significance, I do not know.

Thanks for sharing this,

posted 12-10-2008 02:03 PM            

This might be a piece of Japanese silver, possibly commemorating Commodore Perry's visit in 1854. The Japanese were skilled at this kind of dense chasing, and the ship somewhat resembles Perry's steamer, more so than a strict sailing vessel. Obviously the design sources are western, but it could have been made in Japan.

Just a thought.

posted 12-10-2008 02:20 PM            

You can get an idea of the maximum possible age of this silver object by knowing that this particular coat of arms of Ecuador was approved by their government in 1900 so this particular item would have been made sometime between 1900 and yesterday. I'm not sure it would be very easy to narrow it down from that wide range though. I hope whomever bought it did not pay early American silver prices for it.

I just looked up the symbolism on the coat of arms. I found the following:

The Ecuador coat of arms, as described in a decree issued by the National Congress on November 7th, 1900, is as follows: An oval shield, containing the sun towards the top, in that section of the zodiac whose signs correspond to the months of March, April, May, and June. Below it, Mount Chimborazo, with a stream flowing from it to become a wide river. A steamboat on the river, with a caduceus forming the mast, symbol of navigation and of trade. The shield rests upon consular fasces, the insignia of republican dignity. The flags of the country stand at either side of the shield, together with wreaths of bay and palm leaves, and above it all stands the condor, with wings outstretched. The sun, as it follows the line of the Earth's equator, gives the country its name, and it was worshipped from the earliest times as a beneficent god. It is the highest symbol of an equatorial people. The signs of the zodiac are those corresponding to the months in which the struggle for freedom was waged, culminating in the Battle of Pichincha, on May 24th, 1822. Mount Chimborazo symbolizes the Sierra, or inter-Andean region, while the wide river represents the coastal area. The river serves to unite the two regions, symbolizing that unity which has brought about the richness of the country, richness which in its turn is represented by the boat with a caduceus as a mast. The condor which crowns the shield represents power and liberty, intolerant of restrictions.

posted 12-10-2008 06:06 PM            

Doesn't a Sommelier wear it on a chain?

posted 12-11-2008 11:47 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by seaduck:
Do the 17 blocks in the 6 over 11 arrangement have any meaning?

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I'm not an expert on the coat of arms, but in my recent search for details on the meaning of the different components I did not find anything on the blocks along the bottom. My guess is these are just an artistic way to fill in the space there and make the design pleasing.

There seem to be many variations on the coat of arms. I think it is because their government approved it as a verbal description rather that a particular drawing similar to the way the U.S. flag can be represented.

posted 12-11-2008 01:08 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by agphile:

And it seems odd to me that if suspended on its chain all the decoration would be upside down.

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Regardless of whether it applies in this case, an object like this suspended on a chain would look right side up to the wearer if looked at when picked up and held in the hand, would if not?

posted 12-11-2008 04:56 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Brent:
. . . As to the coat of arms, I was wondering if the design existed prior to the official sanctioning. In other words, were people using it informally prior to 1900, or was it a completely new invention by the government at the time?

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I found the following explanation on an Ecuadorean website. In reading through it it describes the different coats of arms used by Ecuador throughout its history. This particular coat of arms was not created until 1900, though there was a minor change in 1916 when the flags on the sides were changed from the old blue and white stripes to the then new yellow, blue and red stripes - but that is neither here nor there with this silver object which is not enameled to show the colors of the flags. Going by the below descriptions of the previous coats of arms, I would say the short answer is no since this was a new design in 1900 and if anyone were to use an Ecuadorean coat of arms on something prior to that year it would make sense they would have used the one of the day. It does not make sense to me that someone would have used a design that had not yet been created, especially since they have always had an official coat of arms at the different points in their history.

Here is the description of the 6 coats of arms of Ecuador's history:

The Coat of Arms has undergone six changes throughout its history. The current graphical version, approved by the Ministerio de Instruccion Publica [ Popular Education Office ] in 1916 is a marvellous work of art thanks to the talent of Pedro P. Traversari. This final version triumphed over the many other designs from the verbal descriptions of the Coat of Arms contained in the 1845 and 1900 decrees.

The changes are as follows:

1. From 1821 the Free Province of Guayaquil used a white five-pointed star on a blue field, surrounded by two laurel branches and the words "POR GUAYAQUIL INDEPENDIENTE".

2. Whilst Ecuador was part of Gran Colombia, its Coat of Arms was as stipulated in the Law of 6th October 1821, decreed by the Congress of Cucuta. It comprised of cornucopies or 'horns of plenty', bound with tricolour ribbon surrounded by the words 'Republica de Colombia'.

3. In the Constituent Congress meeting in Riobamba on 27th September 1830 the design for the Coat of Arms was agreed as follows: "the Coat of Arms of Colombia will be used, a light blue field with a sun in equinox over the phases and the phrase 'El Ecuador en Colombia'".

4. Between 1836 and 1846 a circular Coat of Arms with two mountains and two doves carrying olive branches was used. In the sky, the sun is amongst the signs of Leo, Scorpio, Libra and Virgo underneath seven stars. Beneath the mountains, a circular scroll with the words 'Republica del Ecuador' is surrounded by olive and laurel branches.

5. A decree was passed during the third mandate of General Flores, stating that "the [coat of] arms of the Republic will have a rectangular chief and a elliptical base. Its field will be divided into three quarters: the uppermost blue with the sun setting over a section of the Zodiac; the middle one divided into two, right [ sinister ] a gold field with an open book with the Roman numerals I to IV indicating the chapters of the Constitution, left [ dexter ] a green field with a horse; the lowermost divided into two, right a blue field with a river and a ship, left a silver field with a volcano. At the top there is a condor with open wings and flags and trophies on either side.

6. The 1900 congress established the Coat of Arms as it is today. The tricolour was restored by Garcia Moreno in 1860 after the Jambeli victory in which the Peruvian invaders sent by Castilla were expelled from the country.

posted 12-12-2008 02:08 PM            

And the engraving turns out to be not so badly done, after all, since it made clear the vulture/condor characteristics of the "eagle".