Antique Chinese Silver Covered Wine Jug, Chrysanthemums, WH 90, China or Hong Kong, Circa 1900

£1,850.00

Description

Antique Chinese Silver Covered Wine Jug, Chrysanthemums, WH 90, China or Hong Kong, Circa 1900

This charming and unusual antique Chinese silver wine jug has a body of ovoid shape with a long neck, hinged lid and faux bamboo cast silver handle. The body is supported by a short knopped stem over a pedestal foot. The top surface of the foot has been ornamented with chased floral and foliate elements, including bamboo. The cover, or lid, is domed and ornamented with chased veining to the top surface, suggesting a leaf, probably a lotus leaf.
The form is that of a European claret jug with some elements suggestive of those produced around the end of the nineteenth century and made by members of the British arts and crafts movement, but the ornamentation is wholly within the Chinese tradition.
To the body, repousse and chased ornamentation depicts elements of the chrysanthemum plant, a perennial favourite, and a lone bird in the sky above. Curving stems with buds, leaves and fully opened chrysanthemum flowers have been well rendered in a very realistic way.
To the side of the pedestal foot, there are three marks: 90 denoting the silver fineness of 900/1000, the letters WH, denoting the retailer was Wang Hing and the artisan’s mark is written in Chinese characters.
Wang Hing was owned by the Lo family and were in business from around 1854 – 1941. They started in Canton, but by 1900 were also trading in Hong Kong and Shanghai. They sold silver and other luxury goods, including jade and silks. They are acknowledged as the most prolific retailer of Chinese Silver wares. They retailed a wide variety of high-quality stylish silver items and were commissioned to make many silver presentation pieces.

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Product REF: 10010