ANTIQUE 20thC CHINESE EXPORT SOLID SILVER & ENAMEL TEA CADDY, LUEN WO c.1900
Antique early-20th Century Extremely Rare Chinese export solid silver & enamel tea caddy, the melon shaped body sides are applied with shaded enamels, depicting blooming chrysanthemums & iris flowers on matted ground. The caddy is of good traditional size and features stunning workmanship. The base is Hallmarked with Chinese silver 90 (900+ silver standard), Retailers Mark Luen Wo, this kind of quality of enamel is likely made by the artisan Qiu Ji (active in Hong Kong, 1880-1915). Qiu Ji was an important master silversmith of extraordinary skill running his own workshop who appears on items of Wang Hing silver fairly often.
Reference Number: A9201
DESCRIPTION
Antique early-20th Century Extremely Rare Chinese export solid silver & enamel tea caddy, the melon shaped body sides are applied with shaded enamels, depicting blooming chrysanthemums & iris flowers on matted ground. The caddy is of good traditional size and features stunning workmanship. The base is Hallmarked with Chinese silver 90 (900+ silver standard), Retailers Mark Luen Wo, this kind of quality of enamel is likely made by the artisan Qiu Ji (active in Hong Kong, 1880-1915). Qiu Ji was an important master silversmith of extraordinary skill running his own workshop who appears on items of Wang Hing silver fairly often.
Luen Wo was a very important retail silversmith based in Shanghai, he also traded in jewellery, diamonds and embroideries. His artworks show a very high quality that only equals the standards of Wang Hing, in Canton.
Luen Wo was very productive and relied on a large number of designers and artisans, such as Ning Zhao Ji. His items generally bear the mark with his full name or the initials LW and the mark of the artisan who realised the piece.
The firm mainly produced items in the traditional Chinese style, featuring classical motifs such as bamboo leaves, prunus blossoms, chrysanthemums and dragons but, especially after 1880, he is recorded as having also made Peranakan-style items.
CONDITION
In Great Condition - No Damage.
SIZE
Hight: 11cm
Width: 12cm
Weight: 305g