Sing Fat Tea Sets

Antique early-20th Century Chinese export solid silver four piece tea set, comprising of a coffee pot, teapot, sugar bowl and milk jug, each tree-trunk shaped body applied with prunus flowers and applied with decoration in relief, spout, handles and finials modelled as tree branches, outstanding quality and very heavy gauge. Hallmarked with Chinese Export marks (900+ silver standard), Makers marks SF, (Sing Fat), city of Shanghai. Sing Fat was a highly prolific Chinese retail silversmith, working in Shanghai and Canton between 1880 and 1940. All items by Sing Fat are characterized by high quality, unique design and incredible craftsmanship, so there is no surprise that the manufacturer’s fine pieces have always been in high demand. Rare and outstanding are the best words to describe exquisite works, produced and retailed by Sing Fat. Not only did the manufacturer craft such rare silver pieces, as miniature furniture and feeding sets, but also demonstrated ultimate attention to nuances in terms of shapes, style, functionality and elegance. The one thing that Sing Fat silverwares have in common is undoubtedly “sensitive attention to detail and quality and often a novel approach to what could be a mundane object” [see A.Von Ferscht, Chinese Export Silver 1785-1940, 4th edition 2015]. Beautifully crafted, Sing Fat pieces combined traditional Chinese motifs and modernistic details, that seemed so attractive to foreign customers. Even typical for that period, shapes, forms and ornaments were presented in a completely new and unique way. The lotus form rose bowls, double-headed dragon-inspired irregular shapes and spectacular repoussé chrysanthemum garlands were among the traits that were so appealing to European buyers. Along with Wang Hing, Leeching, Da Xing...