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Lot Essay
Among the earliest known Chinese export silver teapots is a small group made for import into England in the late 17th century. One such teapot, now in the Museum of The American China Trade, was struck with London hallmarks for 1682, in compliance with the official English requirement that foreign silver should be marked at Goldsmiths' Hall before it could be sold in England, (H.A. Crosby Forbes, J. Kernan, and R. Wilkins, Chinese Export Silver, Milton,1975, p. 52, fig. 22). The existance of this hallmarked example allows the group to be accurately dated, despite the fact that most examples are unmarked. The present teapot, like the earlier examples, is of exceptionally heavy cast construction, though it differs with the addition of the distinctive bamboo and flower motifs on the spout and cover, as well as by being slightly taller.
Chinese silver in this style influenced the design of English silver in the late 17th century, most notably a cast snuffbox at the Victoria and Albert Museum, (op cit, p. 52, fig. 23), and a group of pieces with chased panels by David Willaume such as a chafing dish of 1698, (illustrated in V. Brett, The Sotheby's Directory of Silver, 1986, fig. 127), and a set of three bowls, (illustrated in P. Glanville, Silver in England, 1987, fig. 93). In the early 19th century the hexagonal shape and cast panels from these earlier examples was revived to be used for a group of tea wares. Examples of these, which are all hallmarked for London between 1818 and 1825, include a teapot by Storr & Mortimer (Brett, op. cit., fig. 1273) and a cream jug by John Edward Terry, 1821, (Christie's New York, 20 October 1998, lot 291).
Chinese silver in this style influenced the design of English silver in the late 17th century, most notably a cast snuffbox at the Victoria and Albert Museum, (op cit, p. 52, fig. 23), and a group of pieces with chased panels by David Willaume such as a chafing dish of 1698, (illustrated in V. Brett, The Sotheby's Directory of Silver, 1986, fig. 127), and a set of three bowls, (illustrated in P. Glanville, Silver in England, 1987, fig. 93). In the early 19th century the hexagonal shape and cast panels from these earlier examples was revived to be used for a group of tea wares. Examples of these, which are all hallmarked for London between 1818 and 1825, include a teapot by Storr & Mortimer (Brett, op. cit., fig. 1273) and a cream jug by John Edward Terry, 1821, (Christie's New York, 20 October 1998, lot 291).