A late 18th / early 19th century Spanish colonial silver and filigree censor or possibly a matte cup

A late 18th / early 19th century Spanish colonial silver and filigree censor or possibly a matte cup, circa 1800The base with a shaped moulded rim and dished centre, all of filigree of foliate panels, the central stem with a screw threaded section with spiralling strapwork knop stem leading to an inverted baluster cup section with a hinged double domed lid surmounted by a ball knop finial raised by a simple thumbpiece. The lid of open filigree work, the base with applied filigree work of scroll forms and crescents.Height – 17.3 cm / 6.8 inchesWeight – 709 grams / 22.79 ozt The shape of the base section of this lot closely matches the many dishes and bases produced especially in the Spanish colonial area such a Mexico and Guatemala. Indeed the presence of imported Asian filigree work into Mexico in the 17th century from the Philippines is known. On discussing a 17th century filigree casket thought to be from Manilla it is commented “[t]here is 17th century documentary evidence for a filigree altar cross and altar plate supplied from Manila for a Mexican church, and the pattern (of Philippine manufacture) becomes increasingly plausible. Production of caskets like the present example ceases around 1750, which corresponds nicely with the Spanish expulsion of the Chinese population of the Philippines in 1760.” Wynyard R. T. Wilkinson. It stands to reason that later skills for filigree production may have drawn upon these earlier imported Asian examples.