An elegant Canton silver vase depicting cranes, deer, and a rising sun among pines — traditional emblems of longevity, vitality, and auspicious renewal. The reverse shows blossoming branches and pairs of birds, expressing harmony, springtime, and conjugal happiness.
Such paired compositions relate to the classical “Twelve Months of Flowers and Birds” motif, in which each element represents a season or an auspicious quality, reflecting the cyclical beauty of nature and the blessings of a prosperous life. These vases were often presented as wedding gifts.
The vase is marked on the bottom HK KW (“Hongkong Kwan Wo”), a Canton silversmith active in the late Qing dynasty.
