Paired Cloisonné Vases Hong Kong 10/2/1918 (Paddy’s Market)

Hey everyone, picked these up today from my local antiques auction wanted to share straight away before I do a little more research. Don’t know too much about Cloisonné other than the basics so I thought I’d take a stab in the dark, learn a little and buy these.

They are simply black enamelling with gold cloison. Interestingly they have a name on the bases which are both the exact same scratched on as neatly as possible by hand. I’m assuming they are by the buyer of the vases as a memory but I’m unsure, just speculation. There is also some damaged areas I have focused photos on, does anybody know what happened here, it’s not light glare, they’re a really copper like colour in this areas.

The bases read :

‘W. G. Browell (possibly Browill) / 1918 / Hong Kong’

The other scratched words are on the insides of the vase right at the top. Reading :

‘Paddy’s Market / 10/2/1918’

Inside one of them there is also three letters, it’s difficult to tell what scratches are accidental and are not but I make out :

‘W - G B’ but it may be ‘W - C B’

but the colon may be accidental so keep in mind.

Anybody know more about this or indeed what Paddy’s Market was? Was this kind of thing a common tourist item in 1918 amidst WW1. Feel free to speculate with me

P.s : sorry they don’t photograph well in my apartment

 

I know a Paddy's market from my time in Sydney, Oz. It is a wonderful covered market where you can buy just about anything. It is close to Sydney's Chinatown.

 

I think that is W.G. Browell ? Those are gorgeous,I love that they are black.