Page 127 - Chinese SIlver By Adrien Von Ferscht

Some of the silversmiths during the early manufacturing periods of Chinese Export Silver
were very much in league with the Hong Merchants who in turn were in league with the
foreign merchants based in Canton as well as the sea captains themselves - we know of
joint ventures between Hong merchants and foreign merchants. In the frantic world of
Canton, in particular, this would have seemed both natural and inevitable. Cutshing is one
such silver name that was born of such an alliance, yet early Cutshing silver is considered
comparable to the finest Georgian silversmiths in Britain and America. Cutshing silver was
the product of strict quality control, highly honed design and highly skilled silversmithing. It
also had a deep understanding of the end user and this could only have been a product of
collusion between the Western merchants and the Hong merchants.

From this, we can see more clearly how labyrinthine the trade was and, more importantly,
the actual artisan silversmith that worked an item was very much at the bottom end of the
food chain. Skilled artisan silversmiths had a place towards the bottom of the Chinese
social hierarchy. I should counter this by saying not all the silver was destined for the West
- some went to India, Arab countries, other south east Asian countries and the silver that
was sent there was very much designed to suit regional and religious tastes. Some was
also sought after by affluent Chinese, some of whom aspired for a more Western lifestyle
which was certainly the case in Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Chinese Export Silver makers’ marks do not deliver information other silver marks might
and although making sense of them can be somewhat of a minefield, it isn’t an
insurmountable one. That said, the silver speaks for itself.

A Chinese Export Silver reticulated bowl by Hui Xing, Canton, circa 1860