Page 189 - Chinese SIlver By Adrien Von Ferscht

CHÉN LIAN JI
New China Street, Canton
circa 1890-1920

A well-known Paktong retailer and maker - opium pipes a speciality. Paktong that carries a maker’s mark is often
mistakenly identified as Chinese Export Silver simply because it is has a polished silver colour, is heavy and it
carries a Chinese mark.

This late 19th century flip-top vesta
case could easily be taken for being
silver - it even has the hue of silver. No
less care and skill have gone into
making this than a silver vesta would
have.

Since the late 17th century, Chinese
Paktong items have been made for the
West, including some extraordinary
candlesticks. It may be considered by
some to be an inferior alloy, but it
commands high values in auction
houses if the piece is good and from
the 17th, 18th or 19th centuries.

The fact this silversmith had premises
on New China Street - the silversmiths’
street in Canton, is an indication of
where it belonged in the hierarchy of
the world of silver.

Images courtesy of .925-1000.com

http://chinese-export-silver.com Image Library Archive