A late 19^th / early 20^th century Chinese export silver three-piece tea service, Canton or Shanghai circa 1900 by An Chang, retailed by Hung Chong of Shanghai

Qing dynasty. Comprising a teapot, a milk jug, and a covered twin handled sugar bowl. Each of ‘tree trunk’ form with a gnarled inner section. The teapot with a spout modelled after a branch, opposite a handle modelled the same fitted with ivory insulators pinned to sockets. The milk and sugar with similar handles modelled as branches. The teapot and sugar with pull off lids with branch form finials with cast and applied prunus decoration. The bodies with cast and applied flowering prunus decoration. Each engraved to a chamfered section with initials MM in cypher. Each marked underneath with artisan mark 安昌 (AN CHANG), SHANGHAI, and retailers mark HUNG-CHONG. (3)

Teapot length – 23.2 cm / 9.05 inches

Weight – 1180 grams / 37.94 ozt

ivory declaration: 6HS94Z4T