Antique 1934 Chinese Export Sterling Silver Presentation Bonbon Dish

A distinctive Chinese Export sterling silver presentation dish dating to 1934, engraved with a historical dedication from the Tientsin Lawn Tennis Association. Crafted in an elegant oval form, the dish features a finely pierced openwork border with repeating stylised floral and geometric panels, complemented by a decorative moulded rim.

The central inscription reads:

“To S. Bomanjee Esq. from the Tientsin Lawn Tennis Association, 12th Sept. 1934”

This unusual presentation piece combines practical tableware function with a documented connection to the international sporting and social history of Tientsin, now known as Tianjin. Its substantial sterling silver weight, attractive pierced construction and clearly dated inscription make it an appealing addition to a collection of Chinese Export Silver, historical presentation silver or vintage tennis memorabilia.

Details

Item: Presentation bonbon or sweetmeat dish

Origin: Most likely Tientsin, China

Date: 12 September 1934

Period: Republic of China period, interwar era

Material: Sterling silver, 92.5% purity

Mark: Stamped STERLING with a six-pointed star trademark

Maker: Unidentified

Decoration: Pierced openwork border with repeating stylised floral and geometric panels

Inscription: “To S. Bomanjee Esq. from the Tientsin Lawn Tennis Association, 12th Sept. 1934”

Shape: Oval

Length: Approx. 19.5 cm

Width: Approx. 12.5 cm

Total Silver Weight: Approx. 120.9 g

Condition

Very good vintage condition with light wear consistent with age and use. The dish retains its attractive pierced border and clearly readable presentation inscription. Please review the photographs carefully for the full condition.

Historical and Collector Context

Tientsin, now known as Tianjin, was an important northern Chinese port city and international commercial centre during the early twentieth century. Silver objects produced for local and international clients often reflected the cosmopolitan character of China’s treaty-port communities.

Chinese Export Silver was made in China for overseas and internationally connected markets, frequently combining Western tableware forms with Chinese craftsmanship and decorative traditions. Unlike British silver, these pieces were not marked through a formal British-style assay-office system. This dish is stamped STERLING together with a six-pointed star trademark, while its presentation inscription provides a precise date and historical association.

The dedication from the Tientsin Lawn Tennis Association gives the piece particular collector interest. It documents a sporting and social connection to Tientsin in 1934 and distinguishes the dish from more commonly encountered unsigned silver bonbon dishes. It would make an attractive addition to a collection of Chinese Export Silver, treaty-port memorabilia, historical presentation silver or vintage tennis-related antiques.

All items are vintage or antique and may show light signs of age. Please review all photos carefully as they form part of the description. Feel free to message with any questions prior to purchase.