?A BOXED CHINESE SILVER THREE-PIECE TEA SET AND SUGAR TONGS, MARKED W.A (UNDOCUMENTED), CANTON, SECOND HALF 19TH CENTURY each bulbous body chased with a dragon, the handles simulating bamboo, the teapot with ~bamboo~ spout and detachable cover with lobed knop, the milk jug and sugar bowl with gilt interiors, the pair of tongs cast with dragons, underside of bodies stamped W.A and a two character mark, tongs with two character mark only, all in the original blue silk lined fitted wood box with sliding cover teapot 20cm long; 795gr (25oz) including ivory insulators to teapot handle See H.A. Crosby Forbes, Chinese Export Silver, 1785 to 1885, p.140, nos. 219-221 for silver stamped with the W.A mark where the author notes that it is rare to find silver with this mark and suggests a date for this maker of the second half of the nineteenth century. Also see Adrien von Ferscht, Chinese Export Silver [Silver of the Qing Dynasty] 1685-1940, (http://chinese-export-silver.com.gridhosted.co.uk downloadable pdf catalogue) for further discussion of this mark. This lot is being sold for the benefit of Catwel (Cardiff, Registered Charity No.1086255).