A ‘XI SHANG MEI SHAO’ CHINESE EXPORT SILVER...

A ‘XI SHANG MEI SHAO’ CHINESE EXPORT SILVER THREE-PIECE TEA SET BY BAO CHENG OF TIANJING
China, Active in Beijing and Tianjin, Circa 1900
Comprised of one lidded teapot, one cream pot and one lidded sugar bowl. Each resting on a short foot, each of globular compressed belly, each with bamboo shaped handles, the teapot also with a bamboo shaped spout and a bamboo-shaped finial topping its lid. All adorned with magpies and prunus. All inscrined to the below with the city, i.e. Tianjin, and the maker’s mark, Bao Cheng.
H (the biggest, the teapot): 15 cm
Total weight: 976 grams
Notes:
1. Amidst the artists working in Beijing, Bao Cheng, whom later also had a workshop in Tianjin, stood put for his exceptional skills both in silver making and enamel work. His works are quite rare ands sought-after by collectors.
2. One can say “There is a happy magpie on the tip of the plum branch”, lit. “Xi Shang Mei Shao” (喜上梅稍) which sound exactly like “Xi Shang Mei Shao” (喜上眉稍), lit. happiness up to one's eyebrows".

中国出口“喜上眉梢”银器三件套，天津
中国，北京或天津，约1900年