A late 19^th / early 20^th century Chinese export silver tea caddy, Canton circa 1900, marked Zhou, retailed by Wang Hing

Qing dynasty. Of hexagonal form upon stepped feet, cylindrical pull off cap topped with chased character 福 (FU, fortune/ good luck). The top section below lid chased with flat chased bamboo against a ring punched ground. The sides with alternating panels of embossed bamboo, Chinese dragon amidst clouds, flowering prunus, chrysanthemums, and two figures below a fir tree playing. The front with four encircled characters for the seperation gesture 竹 报 平 安 (Zhu Bao Ping An, bamboo report peace and safe). Engraved underneath with initials C.G in bold script. Marked underneath with artisan mark 卓 (ZHUO), numeral 90, and retailer’s mark WH.

Height – 10.3 cm / 4.1 inches

Weight – 148 grams / 4.76 ozt

Zhuo

A box with dragon feet, also in this sale, by this workshop and retailed by Kwon Man Shing of Hong Kong, is illustrated Marlowe, A.J. (1990) Chinese Export Silver – Catalogue of an exhibition at the galleries of John Sparks. London: John Sparks Limited, f. 34.

A figural bowl by this workshop and retailed by Zee Wo of Shanghai is illustrated Kwan. S. (2018) Chinese Export Silver – The Muwen Tang Collection. Hong Kong: Muwen Tang Fine Arts Publication Ltd. p. 298-299, f.112.

A dragon stemmed bowl by this workshop and this retailer is illustrated ibid p. 480-481, f. 202.

A dragon goblet by this workshop and this retailer is illustrated ibid p. 482-83, f. 203.

A tea caddy, also in this sale, by this workshop and retailed by Wang Hing, was previously sold these rooms, 3 Nov 2015, lot 359 (£1300 hammer)

A three-piece tea set, with the milk jug by this work shop, the other elements marked for 寳生 (BAO SHENG), each retailed by Wang Hing, sold these rooms, 19 Oct 2022, lot 417 (£2000 incl. prem)