Chinese Export? Repousse salt.

[Francais]

This is a heavy repoussee salt, the marks look like Chinese Export to me, but I can't find the mark.
Maurice

[davidross]

Hello Maurice,

It looks CES to me, too. From the repousse floral work, probably early Victorian.

The pseudo-hallmarks are typical of Canton, but the maker's mark is a mystery to me. As oriented in the photo, it vaguely suggests the CUT of Cutshing (as do the rendering of lion rampant and the London leopard head). Turned upside down, the mark might be the "SUN" of Sunshing, although I know of no example of Sunshing marking thus and not with "SS." It may be the work of a smaller shop that consciously employed a mark suggestive of both of these well-known enterprises.

Hopefully, someone else will provide a more satisfactory answer.

Regards,
David R