Canton circa 1875, marked Hui, retailed by Sum Shing
A late 19th century Chinese export silver mug

Qing dynasty. Of tapering cylindrical form upon a domed circular foot. The handle formed as a Chinese dragon with saw cut and engraved frills and applied wrought work horns. The body with chased decoration of ten figures all within six Chinese sampan river boats, some playing mandolin others raising beakers in jubilation, all against a backdrop on a forest of bamboo, populated with four birds and an insect, reserved against a textured ground. The foot with a chased band of bamboo. The front with a shield shape cartouche engraved with a contemporaneous inscription reading “J. M. Jopling from his uncle Fred”. Double skinned interior. Marked underneath with artisan mark 匯 (HUI), and retailer’s mark SS.

Height – 13 cm / 5.15 inches

Weight – 232 grams / 7.46

The inscription could relate to Joseph Middleton Jopling (1830-1884), an English artist and watercolourist. However the inscription and object would typically be associated for a christening but no matching name has yet been found.

Joseph the son of Charles Jopling (6 April 1786 – 2 June 1848) and Anne Thompson (1804-1887), she Scottish and married 7th April 1826 in Gorbals, Lanark, Scotland. He is listed in the 1841 census as age 50 living in Pelham Crescent, Kensington, and by the 1851 census Ann is described as a widow. A Charles Jopling of Pelham Crescent, Kensington is recorded dead 21 January 1848, age 61, so presumably his age is incorrect on the 1841 census. Jospeh married 24^th January 1874 Louise Romer née Goode (1843-1933) daughter of Thomas Smith Goode. The Fred or Alfred mentioned could be a relation on Jospeh’s mothers side and given the known dates for Hui to have been working from dated examples it seems likely this may have been gifted around the wedding date. Lousie Jopling was a prominent female artist of her generation.

The inclusion of Chinese sampan river boats is a rarer feature for these typically Cantonese depictions of daily life.

Hui

An earlier period and quite prolific workshop with many pieces dated to the 1870’s and possibly earlier.

A mug by this workshop is listed Marlowe, A.J. (1990) Chinese Export Silver – Catalogue of an exhibition at the galleries of John Sparks. London: John Sparks Limited. p.38, f.20.

A standing cup by this workshop is illustrated ibid p.38-39, f.21.

A standing cup by this workshop and retailed by Sun Shing is illustrated ibid p.66-67, f.55.

A statuette (spill vase) by this workshop and retailed by Lee Ching is illustrated Devereux Kernan, K. (1985), The Chait Collection of Chinese Export Silver. New York: Chait Galleries. p. 120-121, f. 113.

A figural christening set dated 1874 by this workshop and retailed by Sun Shing is illustrated ibid, p. 161, f. 166.

A hexagonal ‘Fu’ tea caddy by this workshop and retailed by Wing Chung of Hong Kong is illustrated ibid, p. 219, f..244.

A centrepiece bowl with crane supports by this work shop and retailed by Sun Shing is illustrated Silver Magazine March / April 2002 Collectors Forum: Chinese Export Silver. (front cover), p.35.

A figural cup by this workshop and retailed by Yatshing is illustrated ibid, p. 235, f. 267.

A mug dated 1872 by this workshop and retailed by Sun Shing is illustrated Kwan. S. (2018) Chinese Export Silver – The Muwen Tang Collection. Hong Kong: Muwen Tang Fine Arts Publication Ltd. p. 160-161, f. 43.

A standing cup by this workshop and retailed by Sun Shing dated 1877 was sold Tennants, 11 Nov 2023, lot 2046 (£1500 hammer)

A mug by this workshop and retailed by Cum Wo of Hong Kong, was sold these rooms, 9 Oct 2025, lot 37 (£1134 incl. prem)

A cheroot case by this workshop and retailed by Khe Cheong was sold these rooms, 9 Oct 2025, lot 38 (£428 incl. prem)