An early 20^th century Chinese export silver coffee pot, Canton or Hong Kong circa 1920, marked Wen Wei Ji, retailed by Chong Woo of Hong Kong

Republic period. Of baluster form upon a spreading circular foot, the handle formed as a Chinese dragon with cut sheet frills heightened with chasing, fitted with ivory insulators, opposite a curved spout with the base embossed as a Chinese dragon’s head. The hinged, domed lid surmounted by a finial formed as a Chinese dragon’s head with cut sheet frills, embossed amidst clouds. The body with embossed decoration of a trailing Chinese dragon. Marked underneath with artisan mark 文煒記 (WEN WEI JI, the workshop of Wen Wei), numeral 90, retailer’s mark CHONGWOO, and HONGKONG.

Height – 18.8 cm / 7.45 inches

Weight – 632 grams / 20.32 ozt

Wen Wei

A workshop located in Canton and Hong Kong, which supplied a wide range or retailers besides Chong Woo, including, Hung Chong (S), Kong Chan (HK), Kwan Wo (C, HK) Luen Wo (S), Tuck Chang (S), Wang Hing (C, HK), Wing Fat (C, HK), Wo Shing (S).

A prunus branch kettle, teapot and sugar 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. 195, f. 209.

A comport by this workshop and retailed by Wang Hing was sold Christie’s New York, the Posner collection of Chinese Export Silver, 22 Aug 2019, Lot 9 ($2500 incl. prem)

A three-piece tea service by this workshop and retailed by Luen Wo of Shanghai was sold Christie’s New York, the Posner collection of Chinese Export Silver, 22 Aug 2019, lot 38 ($5625 incl. prem)

A chrysanthemum bowl by this workshop was sold Bonhams, Knightsbridge, 1 Nov 2021, lot 550 (£2167.50 incl. prem)

A flowering prunus teapot by this workshop and retailed by Wang Hing, was sold Tennants,13 May 2023, lot 2254 (£650 hammer)

Ivory declaration: D14LMVV1