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

DESCRIPTION

Antique 19th Century Chinese Export Solid Silver three piece tea set, comprising of a teapot, sugar bowl and milk jug, each pear shaped body is beautifully chased with grazing cranes and exotic birds in flight amongst bamboo on a matted surface, each body applied with an intricately modeled bamboo handles and finial, simply outstanding quality. Teapot, sugar bowl and cream jug with vacant shield cartooches.

Hallmarked with Chinese export marks, Artisan mark in Chinese and Retailer WH for Wang Hing (Active c. 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: 16.5cm
Width: 20 x 11cm
Weight: 550g

SUGAR BOWL
Height: 9.5cm
Width: 157x 9.5cm
Weight: 260g

CREAM JUG
Height: 9cm
Width: 14 x 8.5cm
Weight: 195g