A late 19th century Chinese export silver coffee pot, Shanghai circa 1880, marked Zhao Chang, retailed by Wo Shing

A late 19^th century Chinese export silver coffee pot, Shanghai circa 1880, marked Zhao Chang, retailed by Wo Shing

Qing dynasty. Of baluster form with a C scroll handle fitted with horn insulators, opposite a curved spout, leading to a hinged domed lid surmounted by a rosette finial, all raised upon four acanthus scroll bracket feet. The body with chased decoration of a crane amidst peonies, to each side, against a textured ground. The lid with chased decoration of peonies with the lower rim with flat chased stylised half rosettes. The handle with ring punched decoration, the spout with a flat chased peony. Marked underneath with artisan mark 兆昌 (ZHAO CHANG), a standard mark 紋銀 (WEN YIN, solid silver), and retailer’s mark WS.

Height – 19.6 cm / 7.75 inches

Weight – 682 grams / 21.93 ozt