A rare and interesting early to mid-18^th century Chinese parcel gilt silver wine pot, circa 1720-50

Yongzheng / Qianlong period. Of inverted baluster form with repoussé lobes to the body and neck, the gilt handle modelled as a branch with applied prunus decoration to the junction, opposite a gilt spout modelled as bamboo. The neck edged with a flat chased gilt ruyi border. The lobed pull off domed lid surmounted by a gilt prunus slower and branch form finial. Later marked underneath 同泰 (TONG TAI) and with later Dutch Import tax mark of a crowned V (used 1814-1893), also marked with a later French import mark ET for Paris 1864-93 and Austrian import mark for Vienna 1902-18.

Height – 17.2 cm / 6.75 inches

Weight – 404 grams / 12.99 ozt

Tong Tai was a Canton Hong (merchant house), headed by a merchant Poonequa (Chinese name, Mai Tong Tai), and was in operation from 1804 to 1827. These dates tie in with the use of the Dutch import mark. Here a domestic Chinese vessel, used for serving rice wine, of an antique nature by the time of export has been brought to Europe presumably for use as a teapot. Clearly this pot spent much time in Europe with the subsequent French and Austrian import marks.

Early examples of this first phase of Chinese export silver, while bearing London hallmarks, have, thanks to recent spectrographic analysis, been confirmed of Chinese origin such as the teapot of 1682 (Peabody Museum). There are also the work bearing the mark PD crowned within this chinoiserie group alongside another snuff box possibly marked EB, sold Christie’s New York, 16 April 1999, lot 228 ($14,375 incl. prem) as well as a late 17^th / 18^th century bowl and cover, mounted on Regency silver plinths with its facsimile of 1810, sold Christie’s London, 10 Feb 2022, lot 109 (£237,500 incl. prem). An unmarked late 17^th century tankard of this first phase Chinese Export origin was sold in Dreweatts, 14 July 2016, lot 53. There are examples of early Chinese export silver which has been speculated to be a tea cannister adapted for use as a teapot, such as the example in the V&A (M.69:1, 2-1955) with typical cast and applied decoration, with later engraving for 1753 and 1832, either of which could potentially be the date of the additions. However, comparison to porcelain examples and spectrographic analysis of the elements undermines these beliefs: a Kangxi example sold at Christie’s New York, 23 Oct 2008, lot 233 ($92,500 incl. prem) also uses the bamboo form spout with adjoining section. Interestingly this example was engraved underneath with an English type of scratch weight as found in the 18^th century. Another teapot utilising this applied prunus decoration, this time inscribed Yue Youdian Zao underneath, presumably later, was sold Bonham’s London 17 May 2008, lot 226 (£16,250 incl. prem). Most recently another teapot, with Dutch marks for Rotterdam 1783 by Cornelis Knuystingh has emerged, Tennants 18 March 2023, lot 2174, this example has yet to undergo spectrographic analysis to determine if the spout and handle which do not follow the form of these established models are later Dutch additions presumably by Knuystingh. An example also with Dutch marks is the ‘large octofoil [sic] basin, decorated with Chinese subjects in relief’ recorded as being marked for Amsterdam 1713, which was part of the silver belonging to the Duke of Portland (A. E. Jones, Catalogue of Plate Belonging to the Duke of Portland, K.G., G.C.V.O. at Welbeck Abbey, London, 1935, p. 42). The present lot would appear to be a stage of production after these now famous Kangxi period chased and cast and applied decorated pieces, while retaining the structural form, the applied decoration is now simplified to the handle and finial, but crucially maintains its links with import to Europe. The bamboo form spout, branch form handle and especially the prunus section finial on this lot were to become classic elements of late 19^th and early 20^th century Chinese Export silver following the items of the China Trade period which directly mirrored London type silverware.

Academic discussions on the origin and history of Chinese silver items and the interaction of the European-Chinese trade has been thoroughly discussed by Philippa Glanville, Silver in England, (1987), pp. 233-236.