Lot 701. An unusual silver bowl and cover, maker's mark ZF, Venice, probably late 17th century. Estimate  5,000 — 7,000 GBP. Lot sold 11,875 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's.

applied on a solid ground with filigree oriental flowers and meticulous granulations each one set into its own plain wire or ropework collet, openwork foot, engraved twice with Greek letters 'Β λ', maker's mark and lion of St Mark struck twice, 14cm., 5in. diameter; 618gr., 19oz. 16dwt.

Note: See Pietro Pazzi, I Punzoni Dell’Argenteria Veneta, Treviso, 1992, vol II, p. 146 for two recorded Venetian silversmiths with similar maker's mark, one in the late 16th, the other in the late 17th century. Although the bowl and cover  is hallmarked in Venice, it is influenced by Indian or Eastern decorative motifs. In view of this, it may be an imported item, the Venetian marks simply indicate that it complied with the Venetian standard of silver required by their guild regulations.