ANTIQUE 19thC CHINESE EXPORT SOLID SILVER DRAGON TEA SET, WANG HING c.1890

DESCRIPTION

Antique late-19th Century Chinese export solid silver three piece tea set, comprising of teapot, sugar bowl and milk jug, each spherical body applied with exquisite dragons in relief, spout, handle and feet modelled as a bamboo branch and lids mounted with cherry tree blossom branch. Hallmarked Chinese Export 90 (tested 900+ standard), Maker's mark in Chinese and Retailers mark WH for Wang Hing (active 1854-1941), Probably the greatest and finest Chinese Export retailer, Wang Hing started trading in Canton soon after 1842 when, with the end of the First Opium War and the treaty of Nanking, China opened its ports to foreign merchants and Hong Kong became a British colony.

Wang Hing was the trading name chosen by the Lo family who established the business and passed it down for generations until 1941. Although we don’t have any information about the founder of the company, we know that the Lo family was a wealthy merchant family living in one of the richest and buzzing areas of Canton, the district of Xiguan.

Thanks to the fine quality of the pieces and to the entrepreneurial abilities of the family members, the reputation of the firm grew and in 1920’s Lo Hung Tong, grandson of the founder, opened a shop at 10 Queen’s Road, Hong Kong and in Shanghai. Wang Hing artworks became very popular among Western clients, who often commissioned trophies and presentation pieces decorated with the traditional Chinese motifs such as dragons, bamboo leaves and prunus blossoms.

In 1941 with the Japanese invasion, the Lo family was forced to flee to mainland China and the business ceased trading.

CONDITION

In Great Condition - No Damage.

SIZE

TEAPOT
Height: 14cm
Width: 24 x 16cm
Weight: 660g

SUGAR BOWL
Height: 10cm
Width: 17 x 11cm
Weight: 320g

CREAM JUG
Height: 8cm
Width: 15 x 10cm
Weight: 255g