A CHINESE SILVER 'DRAGON' PUNCH BOWL

2ND HALF 19TH CENTURY

Decorated in relief with a scaly dragon wrapping its body around the exterior of the deep bowl, the beast depicted with a fierce expression as it pursues a large flaming pearl, the design set against a chased textured ground, each of the three feet formed as a dragon-carp with its mouth agape and its curled tail supporting the bowl, the base with three punch marks reading 'WH' for Wang Hing & Co, '800', and Kun He, 34cm, 2.8kg.

Wang Hing & Co was established by the Lo family in Canton soon after the 1842 Treaty of Nanking. Having started as dealers in jade, the firm went on to become one of the most prolific and famous retail silversmiths of export silver during the late China trade period. Wang Hing & Co later opened premises in Shanghai and unveiled a flagship store in Hong Kong in the early 1920s which sold various luxury goods in addition to silverware. We are grateful to Adrien von Ferscht and his work in this area for this information.