A SILVER AND JADE BUTTER TEA SET
Tibet, around 1900 to 1920. The silver stand with the lobed saucer atop, embossed with floral and ruyi elements comprising an unusual light green jade cup with russet inclusions of translucent quality. The four-level tiered cover, delicately engraved and embossed with flowers, Buddhist elements in high relief as well as a diaper-pattern band, surmounted by a glass knob, in imitation of jade.

Condition: Very good condition, the silver shows minor surface wear, nicks, and slight warping. The jade cup with a small chip to the upper rim, natural inclusions to the material, and hairlines.
Provenance: The collection of The Zelnik István Southeast Asian Gold Museum. Institutional art collection in Belgium, acquired from the above. Dr. István Zelnik, President of the Hungarian South and Southeast Asian Research Institute, is a former high-ranking Hungarian diplomat who spent several decades in Southeast Asia, building the largest known private collection of Asian art in Europe.

Weight: 289 g
Dimensions: Height 17.1 cm, Diameter 10 cm (Jade cup), 12.6 cm (Saucer)