Page 138 - Chinese SIlver By Adrien Von Ferscht

BAO CHENG [aka: PAO ZUNG]
285 & 984 Nanking Road, Shanghai
circa 1850-1930

* The mark [above far left] is a mark for Bao Cheng and the Yu Ji branch in
Shanghai

One of the so-called “9 Factories” in Shanghai

* Bao Cheng appears to have been a family business since the marks indicate various branches; a common
occurrence in China

A Bao Cheng Silver Store opened in 1920 and traded until 1993 when it became the Shanghai Yayi Gold Co. Ltd -
however there is no evidence this had any connection with the original Bao Cheng Shanghai. Yayi is today listed
as one of Shanghai’s most famous 100
brands but claiming “lineage” to very old
companies in China is commonplace and
almost always without substantial
foundation

Bao Cheng is unusual among Chinese
Export Silver retail silversmiths inasmuch
as it commissioned pieces objects that one
would not expect to find from a Chinese
silversmith of this period, in addition to
the more usual items such as trays, tea
sets etc.

The circa late 19th century cup and saucer
[following illustration and left] are directly
influenced by silver from the Tang Dynasty