Chinese Export Silver – Kwong Man Shing Cake Basket

Export Chinese Silver Cake Basket by Kwong Man Shing

Baskets such as these were made to hold and to present to guests small tea cakes. This example has particularly fine floral open-work. It has an oval body divided by eight sections with ajoure with prunus blossoms, chrysanthemums, grapes and vines, bamboo with a bird, irises, and other flowers. It sits on a plain, flared oblong foot. A double bamboo form swing handle rises from the basket which is formed into a figure-of-eight knot at the apex.

The basket has a clear maker’s mark stamped to the base.

Not much is known about the form Kwong Man Shing other than that it operated from 24 Queen’s Road in Hong Kong and Guangdong (Canton) in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Items from this firm tend to follow Chinese taste and design.

Acquired from the UK art market.