This is an unusual square teapot decorated with applied and chased motifs. It has a bamboo-form handle and fruit-form finial atop its lid. The four-pointed foliage cartouche contains the characters fu and shou, which means fortune and longevity, respectively. The teapot is marked with the retailer’s mark, Gan Qing He of Jiujiang City, Jiangxi, China, made during the 13th year of Guang Xu's reign (1887). Gan Qing He was an important silversmith, active from 1860-1910, renowned for its very fine craftsmanship and produced silver pieces for the wealthiest and most prominent Chinese families. Whole sets of silver flatware and tea sets items were regularly produced from the 18th to mid-20th century. Though earlier pieces tended to imitate European aesthetics and motifs, increased awareness and demand resulted in the introduction of Chinese motifs and decorations. High quality workmanship at a low labour cost added greatly to the demand and appeal for such a market.
