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

DESCRIPTION

Antique 19th Century Chinese export solid silver tea service, impressive and exceptionally fine quality, consisting of a hot water kettle on stand, teapot, waist bowl, sugar bowl and cream jug. The set is ball-shaped, decorated with repoussé prunus against a “cracked ice” effect ground. Realistically modelled handles imitating branches, the domed lids mounted with a branch finial. The kettle is suspended on a stylized, well constructed wood effect stand, with a removable functioning burner.

Hallmarked with Chinese character marks and retailers mark WH for Wang Hing (Wang Hing is undoubtedly considered the greatest and finest Chinese Export retailer) and makers mark of Bao Sheng, the removable burner with the Maker's mark LH and makers mark for Shao Ji (Luen Hing, important retailing silversmith active in Shanghai). 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

KETTLE
Height: 32cm
Width: 24 x 20cm
Weight: 1270g

TEAPOT
Height: 16cm
Width: 25 x 14cm
Weight: 615g

BOWL
Height: 7cm
Width: 12cm
Weight: 285g

SUGAR BOWL
Height: 9cm
Width: 15 x 11cm
Weight: 225g

CREAM JUG
Height: 8cm
Width: 13 x 9cm
Weight: 195g