PEWTER SWATOW KUTHIN TEA CADDY HMS DURBAN HONG KONG 27 Start Price GBP 29.99 Current Price GBP 29.99 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Sunday, September 07, 2008 End Time Friday, September 12, 2008 Location Wadebridge, Cornwall See more about 'PEWTER SWATOW KUTHIN TEA CADDY HMS DURBAN HONG KONG 27' Description saltydogcompany Store THIS IS A VERY INTESTING PEWTER TEA CADDY FROM THE FAMOUS CHINESE FIRM OF SWATOW KUTHIN.    Today, the world's largest producer of pewter is Royal Selangor in Malasia. Interestingly, the origins of this company go back to 1885 when an enterprising young man, Yong Koon, set sail from Swatow in China for the Malay Peninsula. Armed with just a set of hand tools and a determination to make his fortune in the Peninsula, the founder of Royal Selangor quickly set up a cottage industry employing pewtersmiths recruited from family members and close friends. Yong Koon's dedication and commitment to excellence ensured the growing popularity of his pewter designs. Swatow is known today, for the beautiful Kuthin Swatow Chinese pewter ware, as this tea caddy demonstrates.    THE MAKER'S MARK IS ON THE BASE - "KUTHIN PEWTER SWATOW" AND ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE LID.  ALSO INSCRIBED ON THE BASE IS "H.M.S  "DURBAN"  HONG KONG 1927".    THE HMS Durban was a class D Light cruiser built by Scotts Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. (Greenock, Scotland) and launched on the 29 May, 1919.  After commissioning HMS Durban joined the China Station 5th Light Cruiser Squadron in January 1922.  The HMS Durban was lost in action on the 19th of June 1944.  This tea caddy would have been part of the tableware used in the Officer's Mess.    THERE IS A DRAGON ENGRAVED AROUND THE SIDE  OF THE CADDY AND BAMBOO LEAVES ON THE LID.  THERE IS A HEAVY LID INSIDE THE CADDY USED TO KEEP THE TEA FRESH.    HEIGHT IS 5.25" (13.3CM) AND DIAMETER IS 4" (10CM).   IN GOOD CONDITION - SOME MINOR DENTS.    INSURANCE INCLUDED IN POSTAGE COSTS.  MONEY BACK GUARANTEED IF NOT SATISFIED WITH PURCHASE....   BID WITH CONFIDENCE.       Place a Bid!