A late 19^th century Chinese export silver tea caddy, Jiujiang circa 1890, marked Tu Qing Yun

Qing dynasty. Of globular form upon a tapering collet foot. The pull off cylindrical cap with bulbous section. The body with spirally chased decoration of alternating panels of flowering prunus, bamboo, chrysanthemums, jasmine flowers, and figures on horseback, all against a ring punched ground, all between borders of meander scroll, the upper section and lid with flat chased decoration of narcissus flowers, the lid with cut sheet and applied work character 福 (FU fortune/ good luck). Marked underneath with a partially obscured mark 涂慶雲 (TU QING YUN).

Height – 12.5 cm / 4.8 inches

Weight – 190 grams / 6.11 ozt

A teapot with this mark is illustrated Kwan. S. (2018) Chinese Export Silver – The Muwen Tang Collection. Hong Kong: Muwen Tang Fine Arts Publication Ltd. p.260-261, f.93.

Chiswick Auctions wishes to thank Dr Adrien von Ferscht for his assistance in identifying this lot.