ANTIQUE 19thC CHINESE EXPORT TU MAO XING SOLID SILVER 7PS TEA SET ON TRAY c.1880
19th Century Chinese Export Silver seven piece tea and coffee service on a tray, comprising of coffee pot, teapot, sugar bowl, milk jug, slop bowl, tea caddy and tea strainer, all on the original twin-handled tray, each spherical body is beautifully chased with bamboo leaves on a matted surface, each piece rests on a decorative skirted foot and is applied with an intricately modeled bamboo handle, outstanding quality. Hallmarked Chinese Export silver (900 standard), only the strainer bearing the mark "MT", all the other pieces (including the tray) bearing the Maker's mark in Chinese for Tu Mao Xing.
Reference Number: A3356
DESCRIPTION
Antique late-19th Century Chinese Export Solid Silver seven piece tea and coffee service on a tray, comprising of coffee pot, teapot, sugar bowl, milk jug, slop bowl, tea caddy and tea strainer, all on the original twin-handled tray, each spherical body is beautifully chased with bamboo leaves on a matted surface, each piece rests on a decorative skirted foot and is applied with an intricately modeled bamboo handle, outstanding quality.
This is one of the most complete and exceptional Chinese silver tea services (it is very rare to have a complete set including the tea caddy), by one of the greatest Chinese silversmiths of all time.
Each piece is Hallmarked Chinese Export silver (acid tested shows a 900 standard), only the strainer bearing the mark "MT", all the other pieces (including the tray) bearing the Maker's mark in Chinese for Tu Mao Xing, active in Jiǔjiāng, Jiangxi Province, from 1880 until 1930. This mark has been wrongly identified as Han Mao Hsing by Crosby Forbes and Kernan. The silversmith is considered one of best Chinese Export names (please see A. Von Ferscht, Chinese Export Silver 1785-1940, 4th edition 2015). Tu Mao Xing one of the first silversmiths operating in Jiǔjiāng and "one of the best 19th century Chinese Export silver names", "a master of theatricality". Please follow this link and this link for more information. Tu Mao Xing (previously known as Han Mao Hsing) made some of the highest results in Chinese silver objects.
CONDITION
In Great Condition - no damage.
COFFEE POT
Height: 17cm
Width: 20 x 11.5cm
TEAPOT
Height: 11.5cm
Width: 21 x 11cm
SUGAR BOWL
Height: 8.2cm
Width: 14.5 x 9cm
CREAM JUG
Height: 7.7cm
Width: 11.4 x 7.5cm
SLOP BOWL
Height: 4.5cm
Width: 8.3cm
TEA CADDY
Height: 11.3cm
Width: 9cm
TEA STRAINER
Length: 17cm
Width: 6cm
TRAY
Length: 50cm
Width: 29cm
TOTAL SILVER WEIGHT: 2960g