Early 20th Century Antique Chinese Marked Nickel-Plated Pewter Tea Set - 3 Pieces

Description

Offered for sale is an antique Chinese KUT HING SWATOW nickel-plated pewter tea set including a large teapot with strainer, … more Offered for sale is an antique Chinese KUT HING SWATOW nickel-plated pewter tea set including a large teapot with strainer, a covered creamer and a covered sugar bowl, well-known trademark export wares combining Chinese decorative motifs and the style of Western silverware; the teapot decorated with fine chisel engraving of running dragon, bird, butterfly and floriated motifs, the sugar bowl and creamer decorated with dragon and flowers, the teapot and sugar bowl containing circular Hut Hing Swato Pewter on the bases and the inner sides of the covers, four different marks of the Kut Hing workshop (颜吉兴) on the base of the creamer indicating the trademark, place of production and quality standard/authenticity ("genuine point-copper" 真料点铜)*; all three in overall good condition with minor dents on the bases, nickel plating in typical good condition considering the age and use, minor plating losses on the bodies (one large missing on the base of teapot)

Late 19th/early 20th century, late Qing/early Republic period
Private Washington DC collection
9 1/2 in. wide, 5 in. high (teapot)
5 3/4 in. wide, 5 in. high (creamer)
7 in. wide, 4 7/8 in. high (sugar bowl)

*Genuine point-copper (真料点铜): Why is a "genuine point-copper" mark on the pewter product? Although pewter was widely used to make utensils, as metal pewter is too soft, so it is necessary to add the appropriate amount of copper or other metals to increase the hardness. The term "point copper" originated from the Qing Dynasty and is a customary statement among the pewter industry. It means "excellent pewterware with a pewter content of more than 70%", which can be marked with "point copper" on pewter products. The word has the meaning of quality assurance, so "point copper" has become an alternative term for the advanced pewterware at that time. less