The body of this silver bowl is shaped like an opening flower. It is covered in blossoming prunus tendrils, which wind around the body and also form the foot of the bowl. The prunus branches are executed in high relief and almost seem to stand out in the round. Even the petals are lightly engraved, giving them a sense of texture. The interior is covered in gold wash.It was probably produced for export to the West in the late 19th century, a time when trade between China and Europe had opened up considerably. A mark on the base, WH, shows that it was made by Wang Hing, a silversmithing firm with workshops in both Hong Kong and Canton. The firm was prolific, but they produced work of such high quality that Tiffany & Co in New York commissioned silver from Wang Hing for a period of 20 years. Chinese silversmiths began producing silver objects for export to meet the demand of foreign traders, who were arriving in China in large numbers towards the end of the 20th century to trade for porcelain, tea, and silk.
