A late 19th / early 20th century Chinese export silver bowl, Shanghai circa 1900, marked Ning Zhao Ji, retailed by Wa Chun of Canton and Hong Kong

A late 19^th / early 20^th century Chinese export silver bowl, Shanghai circa 1900, marked Ning Zhao Ji, retailed by Wa Chun of Canton and Hong Kong

Qing dynasty. Of hexalobed broadly circular form upon a collet foot, a moulded rim. The body with alternating panels of chased decoration of bamboo, a trailing Chinese dragon amidst clouds, cymbidium, chrysanthemum, flowering prunus, figures against houses with fir trees and magnolia trees, also with a vacant shield shape cartouche. Marked underneath with artisan mark 甯兆記 (NING ZHAO JI, the workshop of Ning Zhao), numeral 90, and retailer’s mark WA.

Diameter – 21.2 cm / 8.3 inches

Height – 10 cm / 3.9 inches

Weight – 634 grams / 20.38 ozt

Ning Zhao

A prominent workshop supplying high quality wares to a variety of retailers, especially Luen Wo of Shanghai.

A pierced bowl by this workshop and retailed by Luen Wo is illustrated Devereux Kernan, K. (1985), The Chait Collection of Chinese Export Silver. New York: Chait Galleries. p. 134-35, f. 127.

A footed vase by this workshop is illustrated Kwan. S. (2018) Chinese Export Silver – The Muwen Tang Collection. Hong Kong: Muwen Tang Fine Arts Publication Ltd. p.296-297, f. 111.

A goblet by this workshop, and retailed by Tien Sheng, was sold these rooms, 9 Oct 2024, lot 18 (£882 incl. prem)

A crane form centrepiece by this workshop and retailed by Tuck Chang was sold Christie’s New York, Robert and Satsuko Young Collection of Chinese Export Silver, 28 Oct 2014, lot 14, ($8750 incl. prem)

A vase by this workshop was sold Christie’s New York, Robert and Satsuko Young Collection of Chinese Export Silver, 28 Oct 2014, lot 26 ($1500 incl. prem)

A goblet by this workshop was sold Christie’s New York, Robert and Satsuko Young Collection of Chinese Export Silver, 28 Oct 2014 lot 69 ($2000 incl. prem)

A chrysanthemum bowl by this workshop and retailed by Luen Wo was sold Bonhams, Knightsbridge, 1 Nov 2021, lot 551 (£2167.50 incl. prem)

A teapot by this workshop and retailed by Kwan Wo of Hong Kong was sold Tennants, 15 July 2023, lot 2080 (£350 hammer)

A pierced bowl by this workshop and retailed by Wa Chun of Canton and Hong Kong was offered these rooms, 19 Oct 2022, lot 418