A late 19^th / early 20th century Chinese export silver small dish, Canton circa 1900, marked Qiu Ji, retailed by Wang Hing

Qing dynasty. Of shaped broadly oval form raised upon four cast scroll bracket feet. The scroll rim chased as stylised leaves, encompassing a handle to each side. The body with pierced and embossed decoration of Chinese dragons amidst clouds, flowering prunus, and bamboo. The centre with a plain oval, edged with pierced trailing Chinese dragons. Marked underneath with artisan mark 求記 (QIU JI, the workshop of Qiu), numeral 90, and retailer’s mark WH.

Length – 15.7 cm / 6.15 inches

Weight – 70 grams / 2.25 ozt

Qiu Ji

A very prominent Canton workshop, this mark is often to be found on items featuring finely pierced and embossed workmanship, as well as trays with deftly executed engraved and flat chased scenes, such as village life or cranes. An excellent example of such a tray was previously sold in these rooms, with a well-worked field depicting scenes of Chinese village life, with people surrounded by buildings, rocky out crops, bamboo and willow trees. All of this was set against a tightly and uniformly worked ring-punched ground, allowing the figural elements to proudly stand out in high contrast. This particular tray came with significant provenance, starting with it being owned by Thomas Child (1841-1898), an English photographer and engineer best known for his pioneering photography work in China.

A mug dated 1875 by this workshop and retailed by Leeching is illustrated Marlowe, A.J. (1990) Chinese Export Silver – Catalogue of an exhibition at the galleries of John Sparks. London: John Sparks Limited. p.52-53, f.38.

Six plates by this workshop and retailed by Luen Wo of Shanghai are illustrated Devereux Kernan, K. (1985), The Chait Collection of Chinese Export Silver. New York: Chait Galleries. P. 138, f. 136.

A twin handled dragon bowl by this workshop and retailed by Wang Hing illustrated ibid. p.177, f.187

An enamel bowl by this workshop and retailed by Wang Hing illustrated ibid. p. 178, f. 188

A pair of candlesticks by this workshop retailed by Wang Hing, imported to Glasgow in 1898 is illustrated ibid. p. 180, f. 191.

A dragon and carp tray by this workshop retailed by Wang Hing is illustrated ibid, p. 198 f. 212.

A shaped circular tray by this workshop retailed by Wang Hing is illustrated ibid. p. 199 f. 213.

A shaped bowl by this maker by this workshop retailed by Wing Chung is illustrated ibid p. 218 f. 242.

A tray chased with the ‘four gentleman’ of bamboo, prunus, orchid, and chrysanthemums by this workshop and retailer, is illustrated Kwan. S. (2018) Chinese Export Silver – The Muwen Tang Collection. Hong Kong: Muwen Tang Fine Arts Publication Ltd. p. 346-347, f.135.

A bowl with a scene of gods at the palace by this workshop and retailer, is illustrated ibid. p. 348-349, f.136.

A salver with an embossed scene of storks, by this workshop and retailer, is illustrated ibid. p. 356-357, f.140.

A twin handled tray by this workshop and this retailer was sold these rooms, 20 Oct 2021, lot 252 (£5500 incl. prem)

A fine lidded mug or tankard by this workshop and retailed by Lee Ching was sold these rooms, 21 June 2023, lot 161 (£13,750 incl. prem)

A chrysanthemum bowl by this workshop and this retailer was sold these rooms, 11 Oct 2023, lot 162 (£1875 incl. prem)

A pierced bowl by this workshop and retailed by Luen Wo, sold these rooms, 20 Oct 2021, lot 251 (£1188 incl. prem)

A large dragon handled punch bowl, marked for Qiu Ji, retailed by Wang Hing also with Scottish import marks for Glasgow 1895 by Edwards and Sons was sold Christies New York 28 Oct 2014, Lot 2 ($35,000 including premium).

A pair of ewers by this workshop was sold Christie’s New York, Robert and Satsuko Young Collection of Chinese Export Silver, 28 Oct 2014 lot 17 ($8750 incl. prem)