Chinese Export Silver Dragon Spout & Handle Teapot Archaic c1880 Signed

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RARE c1880 CHINESE EXPORT SILVER ARCHAIC DRAGON SPOUT AND HANDLE TEAPOT; CHAINED COVER; SIGNED CHINESE CHARACTERS; EXCELLENT CONDITION This is an exceptionally rare c1880 Chinese export silver dragon teapot. In the archaic form. Signed in Chinese characters, translated "high purity". Trade silver prices have exploded in the past year. As evidenced by Skinners Boston auctions in Fall 2010. There a pair of 4 1/4 inches vases for $2000. Shortly thereafter, a common, damaged 20 ounce CES tea set sell for $6800 USD at Halls Gallery in the UK. A slightly larger, damaged, mismatched maker set sold at Christie's London this winter for $7200. The rare dragon teapot in raised circular almost globe form. Centre with hand engraved Greek key, with stylized bird groupings. Retains the original chained cover with hand engraved three leaf medallion to centre. Set in interwoven stream framing. Boldly cast full dragon body handle. The dragon with mouth open, overlooking the dragon partial body spout. Both dragons in the archaic form, single set horns, no thick furry brow or fangs. Lower dragon with dozens and dozens of hand chased scales. The teapot atop Shou medallion globe cap gently curved legs. As found on Chinese decorative arts from thousands of years earlier. Never monogrammed. This rare Chinese silver archaic form teapot is 3 7 /8 inches tall and 3 1/2 spout to handle and 3 3/4 (standard) ounces. Signed in characters, translated lossely "high purity". Excellent condition. The dragon spout, handle and Shou medallion feet retain their original crisp detail. Retains the original chained cover. Stands firm on table. For the discerning collector of the finest China trade silver. An extremely rare c1880 China trade silver archaic dragon spout and handle teapot. Signed in Chinese characters "high purity". Excellent condition. Please feel free to inquire directly about this, or any item we've listed. Whether the item is alone or part of a set. We very much welcome your interest. We are collectors first. As such, we are quite easy to work with. We happily combine items when shipping, saving you costs. We ship twice weekly, usually US Postal Priority. Fully insured for domestic packages, and air parcel overseas. We charge a bit more than actual cost for custom size boxes, shipping materials and to pay for professional packing. We make great effort to accurately describe each item listed. Returns are accepted, if either condition, country of origin or dating is significantly incorrect. In such cases we refund your shipping costs as well. Like you, we are only human, and make mistakes. Hopefully, not too many. Remember, the items you see are antiques. Hence, have an expected amount of wear from normal use. As such, returning an item because we failed to mention the tiniest bit of wear, or barely discernible flaw is not acceptable. Nor do we accept returns based on buyer's remorse. Nor change of taste, or because a buyer did not realize how "small" four inches might be once in hand. Please note, Massachusetts residents are subject to sales tax. We have over 7630 feedbacks. And, are quite proud of our Top Seller designation. We received favorable notice in the March 12th, 2006 New York Times. Page 8, Business Section, in a well written article on silver collecting. Copy furnished upon request. From our personal collection, an elegant mid 19th century coin silver basket, from John and Edward Moore, of Tiffany fame. Illustrated in the cover article of May/June 2008 Silver Magazine, page 27. Enjoy....and good fortune in your bidding. read more

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