ANTIQUE 19thC CHINESE EXPORT SOLID SILVER BOWL ON STAND, WANG HING c.1890
19th Century Chinese solid silver decorative fruit bowl, of traditional round form, with a shaped arched rim, standing on four spreading feet, with floral decoration along the bottom. The decoration is crisp and detailed, decorated with a continuous scene of chrysanthemums flowers, bamboo, cherry blossom, birds and insects on a plain ground.
Hallmarked with Chinese Artisans marks and retailers mark WH for Wang Hing.
Reference Number: A7816
DESCRIPTION
Antique late-19th Century Chinese solid silver decorative fruit bowl, of traditional round form, with a shaped arched rim, standing on four spreading feet, with floral decoration along the bottom. The decoration is crisp and detailed, decorated with a continuous scene of chrysanthemums flowers, bamboo, cherry blossom, birds and insects on a plain ground. The bowl is particularly heavy and very well crafted, by an outstanding Chinese silversmith, it stands proudly on its original carved wood base. Hallmarked with Chinese Artisans marks and retailers mark WH for Wang Hing.
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
Height (on stand): 20.5cm
Width: 23cm
Silver Weight: 930g