A late 19th century Chinese export silver bowl, Shanghai circa 1890, marked Kun He, retailed by Cum Shing of Canton

A late 19^th century Chinese export silver bowl, Shanghai circa 1890, marked Kun He, retailed by Cum Shing of Canton

Qing dynasty. Of rounded circular form with a moulded rim, upon a collet foot. The body with embossed and chased decoration of trailing Chinese dragon’s amidst clouds, centred upon the flaming sacred pearl as a vacant cartouche, all against a textured ground. Marked underneath with artisan mark 昆和 (KUN HE) and retailer’s mark CS.

Diameter – 17 cm / 6.7 inches

Height – 8.5 cm / 3.45 inches

Weight – 351 grams / 11.28 ozt

Kun He

Kun He operated in Shanghai from around the turn of the last century producing well-made holloware often using cast and applied decoration.

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 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).