Late Qing dynasty–Republic period

Comprising a cocktail shaker, a rectangular tea caddy, two teapots, and three covered tea vessels. The rounded vessels are finely engraved and chased with dragons pursuing flaming pearls among clouds, together with floral scrolls and ornamental borders. The handles and spouts are modeled with flowering branches, leaves, and animal-form details.

The tall cylindrical vessel at the back is a cocktail shaker. Its detachable domed upper section and fitted cap identify its function, while the body is engraved with a large coiling dragon among clouds.

The rectangular tea caddy is particularly finely decorated. Its front and reverse are inscribed with a poetic couplet:

“龙泉茶香宜活水，
倾壶待月花开后。”

“Fragrant tea from the Dragon Spring is best prepared with fresh running water;
tilt the pot and await the moon after the flowers have opened.”

The two narrow sides are respectively engraved with flowering plum blossom and bamboo. Plum blossom, which blossoms in the cold, symbolizes perseverance and purity, while bamboo represents integrity and constancy. Together with the tea verse, these motifs transform the practical tea caddy into an object expressing the cultivated pleasures and moral ideals of the traditional scholar.

The pieces are variously marked to the bases with English and Chinese workshop marks, including “KUT HING,” “HUIKEE,” “PEWTER,” and “SWATOW,” together with Chinese marks reading “汕头怀安街,” “潮阳颜吉兴,” and “真料点铜.”

“Kut Hing” is the Swatow-dialect romanization of “吉兴,” referring to the Yan Kut Hing workshop. “Swatow” is the historical English name for Shantou, an important treaty port through which large quantities of locally manufactured pewter were exported. The marks identify the workshop with Huai’an Street in Shantou and with the Yan family of Chaoyang.

The expression “真料点铜” was a traditional quality designation used on fine Chinese pewter. It indicates pewter made from selected material with a small proportion of copper or another hardening metal added to strengthen the otherwise soft alloy.

Kut Hing and Huikee were among the noted pewter workshops active in the Shantou region during the late Qing dynasty and Republic period. Their wares combined traditional Chinese decoration—particularly dragons, flowering plants, bamboo, and auspicious motifs—with vessel forms intended for both Chinese use and the overseas export market. Kut Hing wares bearing Swatow marks are commonly dated to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. 

清末民国 汕头颜吉兴、颜辉记款锡器一组七件

一组七件，包括两截式鸡尾酒调酒壶一件、长方形茶叶罐一件、茶壶两件及带盖小型茶具三件。各器以錾刻、阴刻等技法装饰云龙戏珠、缠枝花卉及几何边饰；部分壶流、把手饰以花枝、叶片及兽首造型，具有鲜明的清末民初潮汕出口锡器特色。

后方长筒形器是一件鸡尾酒调酒壶。器身由筒形下部、拱形上盖及小盖组成，可以拆合，外壁錾刻巨龙穿行于云气之间。

其中长方形茶叶罐制作尤为精美。罐身前后两面分别錾刻茶事对联：

“龙泉茶香宜活水，
倾壶待月花开后。”

对联将煮茶、活水、花月等意象结合，表现传统文人饮茶时追求的清雅意境。罐身左右两侧分别錾刻梅花与竹子：梅花凌寒开放，寓意高洁坚贞；竹子四季常青、中空有节，象征虚心、气节与不屈。诗文与梅竹纹样相互呼应，使茶叶罐在实用器之外，又具有浓厚的文人审美意味。

各器底部可见不同的中英文作坊款，包括“KUT HING”“HUIKEE”“PEWTER”“SWATOW”，以及“汕头怀安街”“潮阳颜吉兴”“真料点铜”等中文款识。

“KUT HING”是“吉兴”的潮汕方言旧式拼音，指颜吉兴锡器作坊；“SWATOW”是汕头的旧式英文名称。“汕头怀安街”标明作坊所在地址，“潮阳颜吉兴”则表明其颜氏作坊及潮阳渊源。颜吉兴是清末民初潮汕地区颇具代表性的制锡商号，其产品除供应本地市场外，也经汕头港大量销往海外。

“真料点铜”是传统锡器的品质标识，并非指器表采用错金、嵌铜或铜胎工艺。“点铜”通常表示在锡料中加入少量铜或其他金属，以增强锡器的硬度与耐用性；“真料”则带有强调选料真实、品质可靠之意。

颜吉兴与颜辉记均是清末至民国时期汕头地区具有代表性的锡器作坊。其作品一方面保留云龙、梅竹、花卉、吉语及诗文等中国传统装饰，另一方面又制作调酒壶、西式茶具等适应海外生活方式的器形，体现了汕头开埠以后潮汕手工业与国际贸易相结合的历史面貌。

{Teapot: height 5 1/2 x width 9 1/2 inches (handle to spout)}. 

Overall good condition. Tumbler has tarnish, dents and evidence of cleaning, otherwise items in good condition.  Contact the Asian Art Department for full condition report and additional photographs