Enquiry about object: 6234
Chinese Export Silver Cigar Lighter by Wang Hing
Maker: Wang Hing, Guangdong (Canton) & Hong Kong, China late 19th century
height: 12cm, width: 8cm, weight: 204g
Provenance
private collection, UK
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This unusual Chinese export silver table cigar lighter is by the maker Wang Hing.
It comprises a spherical body with applied and engraved chrysanthemum bloom decorations, which sits on three ball feet. It also has two pairs of removable tongs with spherical silver finials, and a removable wick holder in the form of a dragon’s head. (A wick remains present.)
The maker’s initials ‘WH’, a Chinese ideogram and ’90’ are under the dragon.
Wang Hing was a firm that was active in Guangdong (Canton) and Hong Kong in the last quarter of the nineteenth century and first quarter of the twentieth century.
The item is in excellent condition.
References
Chan, D.P.L., Chinese Export Silver: The Chan Collection, published in conjunction with the Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore, 2005.
Forbes, H.A.C. et al, Chinese Export Silver 1785-1885, Museum of the American China Trade, 1975.
Marlowe, A.J., Chinese Export Silver, John Sparks, 1990.
