A late 19^th century Chinese Export silver twin handled tray, Canton circa 1890 retailed by Wang Hing

Qing Dynasty, of rectangular form with broad edge embossed with bamboo, the rim and twin handled modelled as bamboo. The field with centred with a vacant rectangular cartouche, otherwise with engraved decoration of figures in a garden scene with willow trees and various houses. Marked to the reverse with WH, 90 and artisan mark QIU JI 求記.

Length – 35.1 cm / 13.75 inches

Weight – 570 grams / 18.33 ozt

Provenance: Thomas Child (1841-1898) and his family, thence by descent.

An English photographer and engineer best known for his pioneering photography work in China. Child produced a large body of photographs during his time in Beijing in the 1870s and 1880s, a time when virtually no other photographers operated in the city. During the two decades he spent in China, Child compiled the earliest comprehensive photographic catalogue of the customs, architecture, and people of late Qing dynasty Beijing.

Child returned to England in 1889 with his family, except for his eldest son Alfred, also employed with the Chinese Maritime Customs Service, who stayed behind in Beijing as his father's successor. Child formally retired from the Customs service the following year.

A large dragon handled punch bowl, marked for Qiu Ji, retailed by Wang Hing also with Scottish import marks for Glasgow 1895 by Edwards and Sons was sold Christies New York 16/28 Oct 2014, Lot 2 ($35,000 including premium).