CHINESE EXPORT SILVER DRAGON TEA SET

A three piece Chinese Export silver tea set. The round melon bodies of the pieces have been repousse worked with dragons. In Chinese culture, the dragon is a potent symbol of power, strength, good fortune and prosperity. The foreigner who commissioned this tea set was clearly hoping for all these auspicious wishes The bamboo motif has been used for the handles , finials and also on the rim of each piece. Bamboo is a powerful symbol in many cultures, representing a range of positive qualities like strength , flexibility ( it bends in the wind and comes back), strength, resilience and good luck- so more auspicious wishes The sugar and cream retain the original gilding This is very attractive tea set by the well known silversmith Luen Wo. Do look on the lid of the tea pot – a dragon’s head. I have never seen that before To be used and displayed