Page 223 - Chinese SIlver By Adrien Von Ferscht

Early in the 20th century, Cum Wo was
one of the first Chinese retail silversmith
to recognise the then burgeoning fashion
for cocktails and created cocktail shakers
decorated with traditional Chinese motifs.
The emblazoned prunus blossom on this
otherwise plain highly polished shaker is
theoretically an incongruous marriage of
tradition with anti-tradition - but it works
to great effect.

Cum Wo was one of the few silversmiths
who knew when enough decoration was
enough.

This circa 1910 lidded and
reticulated preserve dish has
embraced traditional motifs for the
decoration of the lid and the
reticulated side of the base which
holds a green glass inner dish.
Cum Wo favoured this form of
rounded sloping base plinth, but
the piece-de-resistance of this
piece is the handle, taking the form
of a “paifang” temple gateway. This
may be very traditional but it
almost unique in Chinese Export
Silver.

A highly unusual Chinese Expoort
Silver item, this carpenter’s pencil
[below].