A mid-19^th century Chinese Export silver mug, Canton circa 1850 mark of Cutshing

Qing dynasty, of tapering cylindrical form upon a moulded foot and with an applied moulded rim, the handle modelled and chased as a knotted branch. The body with chased decoration of various figural scenes, including warriors rising from the sea, some upon fish, one emerging from a hermit crab shell, other riding a fallen tree, on land a dignitary with staff, all before a fine building surrounded rocky outcrops and fir trees, with another figure riding clouds holding an incense bowl, other cloud riding warriors before a palace in the sky, all perhaps an allegory of the meeting between sea, land and air. The front with an oval cartouche engraved with a crest of a stag's head, vulned through the neck with an arrow. Double skinned interior, traces of gilding to the interior. Marked underneath with mark CU conjoined, then pseudo-English hallmarks of a lion passant, duty mark and leopards head for London.

Height – 11.3 cm / 4.5 inches

Weight – 458 grams / 14.73 ozt

The crest is for Bate of Yorkshire

Jeremy Taylor Collection with Paul Bennett 24/04/2002