Page 180 - Chinese SIlver By Adrien Von Ferscht
P. 180
C.L. [aka: CHEONG LAM]
Canton
circa 1880-1910
A sadly all too rare retail silversmith whose work demonstrates clearly a highly creative mind and a quest for
the highest quality, as this quite extraordinary bowl shows.
It’s a fairly large bowl, measuring 24cm in diameter and weighing a hefty 1243gm [just under 40 Troy ounces].
The bowl displays uniqueness in several guises; the combination of decorative motifs and the techniques the
artisan maker has employed all come together to make this simply an outstanding piece.
The use of copper for the crab’s shell and the fact the crab is trying desperately to climb over the rim and into
the bowl is both genius and humorous. The bowl interior is parcel gilded, suggesting it was designed to be used
for food or a drinkable liquid. The relatively heavy hammer-work finish is unusual for Chinese Export Silver; it
would be more usual to see a finely planished finish.
As one moves around the bowl, we discover the crab is in a sea-scape of different seaweeds, some of which are
accentuated with copper embellishment, that are skilfully made to appear as if they are growing from the gravel
sea bed, represented here by the concave flared base.
