Rare 18th Century Maltese Coffee Pot Leads Strong Results in Silver Auction

The October Silver & Objects of Vertu sale was the largest to date for the department, with over 700 lots offered. Head of Department John Rogers shares the highlights, which included rare examples of Maltese, Chinese and English silver that drew strong interest from collectors and connoisseurs.

Maltese Rarity Discovers New Life

The top lot of the sale was an exceptional 18th century Maltese coffee pot, a previously unrecorded example that now contributes to the known body of this highly distinctive form. The piece was discovered at Portobello Road Market and, nearly destined for scrap, it instead achieved a remarkable £16,250 including Buyer’s Premium.

A heavy and unusually large example, the rare maker and the intricately worked legs added significantly to its appeal. It was purchased by a private collector, who also acquired the preceding lot — a Maltese sugar bowl and cover by Guiseppe Maniscalco di Andrea, which sold for £2,950 including Buyer’s Premium. A similar example by this maker was previously offered at Chiswick Auctions, achieving £2,250 hammer.

Chinese Silver from the Thomas Child Collection

Another notable section of the sale included Chinese export silver from the family of pioneering 19th century photographer Thomas Child (1841–1898), whose work in Beijing captured a formative moment in Chinese visual history.

The standout piece was a late 19th century Chinese export silver twin-handled tray, crafted by the renowned workshop of Qiu Ji (求記) and retailed by Wang Hing, circa 1890. This finely worked tray sold for £5,550 including Buyer’s Premium, well above estimate, thanks to its excellent condition, rarity and impeccable provenance.

Dr Adrien von Ferscht, a leading authority on Chinese export silver, noted:
“There’s no such thing as a mediocre piece of Qiu Ji-made silver. Qiu Ji was one of the most prolific and high-quality workshops in Canton, working closely with top names such as Hoaching, Kong Chan, Luen Wo and Wang Hing.”

Two additional pierced bowls by Qiu Ji were also offered and sold, underlining growing collector interest in this field.

Highlights in English Silver

English silver performed strongly throughout the auction. A particularly rare example was a Charles II provincial silver-mounted coconut cup, Hull circa 1670, by Edward Mangie (or Mangy), which achieved £15,000 including Buyer’s Premium.

The Mangie family were among the most important silversmiths working in Hull during the 17th century, producing ecclesiastical, civic and domestic silver of consistently high quality. Their work was notably featured in the 1951 Festival of Britain exhibition at Kingston-upon-Hull Museum, with nearly a third of the 101 Hull silver objects attributed to Mangie or his wife.

Other standout results included:

• An Edwardian ‘Arts and Crafts’ sterling silver biscuit barrel, London 1904, designed by Charles Robert Ashbee for the Guild of Handicrafts, sold for £7,500 including Buyer’s Premium

• A rare George I provincial sterling silver tankard, Newcastle 1721, by Francis Batty II, sold for £5,250 including Buyer’s Premium

This sale underscores the strength of the market across a broad spectrum of collecting areas, from Maltese rarities and Chinese export silver to English provincial craftsmanship.

Interested in receiving a complimentary Silver valuation?

Get in touch with Head of our Silver & Objects of Vertu Department John Rogers at john.rogers@chiswickauctions.co.uk or submit an Online Valuation.