Chinese Export Silver Mug - Antique Circa 1820

Description

This exceptional antique Chinese Export Silver mug has a tapering cylindrical form.

The surface of this impressive Chinese silver mug is embellished with chased decoration depicting Asian figures in a village setting performing chores and playing musical instruments, incorporating a multitude of indigenous plants.

The decoration to the body incorporates a vacant oval cartouche to the anterior surface.

The upper rim and base of the mug are encompassed with applied moulded borders.

This Chinese export mug is fitted with a C shaped handle modelled in the form of a branch.

This impressive classic mug is double skinned, which is commonplace for its type.

The hallmarks struck to the underside of this fine 19th century Chinese mug include:

Merchant mark: KHC (Khe Cheong, Canton)

Additional marks: Pseudo hallmarks*

* The pseudo hallmarks have no accredited meaning and are a reproduction of English hallmarks; there is no clear reason as to the purpose of these marks. Merchant retailers in Canton often used pseudo hallmarks between 1800-1842, determining the date of this piece as circa 1820. We are grateful to Adrien von Ferscht for his help in identifying this exceptional antique piece.