Chinese Tea Service Qing Style Porcelain Caligraphy

Beautiful traditional Chinese-made tea service, consisting of a teapot, 5 small cups and a tray. Beige porcelain, calligraphed with stamped blue characters, "Epitaph", vintage, this is a Qing-style reproduction, probably made between the 1950s and 1970s, in the spirit of Imperial Qing dynasty pieces, with a so-called "Shunzhi" mark (apocryphal, for decorative purposes), marked 清順治年製 "Dà Qīng Shùnzhì Nián Zhì" "Great Qing dynasty Reign name of Emperor Shunzhi (1644-1661) made during the year of the dog", later production.

Lobed tray, 26.5cm max length, 22cm max width, 4cm height. Teapot with brass or gilt bronze handle, as well as neck strapping, lid rim and base, 17cm max height without handle, 23cm with, 13cm diameter approx., cylindrical shape, approx. 18cm max width with spout, large capacity. 5 small hexagonal cups, 5cm high, 6.5cm max width/diameter. Very good overall condition, with visible use but no accidents. Natural fine cracking and staining due to tea, notably in the cups, metal wear on the teapot, oxidation tarnish on the rims, but clean handle, polished by use however. Approx. 2,500-3kg overall.