An early 20^th century Chinese export silver epergne centrepiece, Shanghai circa 1910, marked Kun He, retailed by Wo Shing

Qing dynasty. The domed base raised upon three applied dragon head feet with cut sheet frills heightened with engraving and tubular horns, rising to a bulbous knop with a detachable dished centre surmounted by a trumpet form flute. The trumpet vase section and edge of bowl section with wavy rim and pierced and chased decoration of alternating panels of trailing Chinese dragons amidst clouds and flowering prunus. The base section with chased decoration of trailing Chinese dragons amidst clouds against a fine textured ground. Marked underneath with artisan mark 昆和 (KUN HE) and retailer’s mark WOSHING.

Height – 31.1 cm / 12.25 inches

Weight – 609 grams / 19.58 ozt

Kun He

A workshop operated in Shanghai from around the turn of the last century producing well-made holloware often using cast and applied decoration and notable dragon bowls.

A bowl by this workshop and retailed by Wang Hing, is illustrated Devereux Kernan, K. (1985), The Chait Collection of Chinese Export Silver. New York: Chait Galleries. P. 173, f. 181.

A pierced pedestal bowl formed essentially identically to the base on this epergne including the three dragon head feet by this workshop and retailed by Tuck Chang of Shanghai is illustrated Marlowe, A.J. (1990) Chinese Export Silver – Catalogue of an exhibition at the galleries of John Sparks. London: John Sparks Limited. p.67 f.56.

An embossed dragon beaker by this workshop and retailed by Kwan Wo is illustrated ibid p.50 f.36.

A pedestal bowl with base the same as this epergne by this workshop and retailed by Tuck Chang is illustrated ibid p.67, f.56.

A three-piece tea service by this workshop and retailed by Wah Hing Lung in the Guangdong Museum is illustrated Chan. L. (2017) The Silver Age – Origins and Trade of Chinese Export Silver. Hong Kong: Hong Kong Maritime Museum. p.183, f.6.

A four-piece tea and coffee service by this workshop and retailed by Kwong Man Shing with cast and applied decoration in the Guangdong Museum is illustrated ibid, p.184, f.7.

A dragon bowl by this workshop and retailed by Luen Wo of Shanghai is illustrated Kwan. S. (2018) Chinese Export Silver – The Muwen Tang Collection. Hong Kong: Muwen Tang Fine Arts Publication Ltd. p.292-3 f.109.

A bowl with bowl with a pierced edge, and cast and applied dragons to the body by this workshop and retailed by Wang Hing of Canton was sold these rooms, 23 March 2023, lot 188 (£2500 incl. prem).

A large bowl with dragon feet by this workshop and retailed by Wing Chun of Hong Kong was sold these rooms, 18 Nov 2021, lot 229 (£3750 incl. prem).

Wo Shing operated at Kiangse Road, Shanghai