Page 233 - Chinese SIlver By Adrien Von Ferscht

D.A.C. [aka Des Arts Cambodgiens]
Khmer [Cambodia] [French Indochina]
circa 1887-1935

Although this is not Chinese Export Silver, it has been known to appear in auction sales and on e-commerce
platforms. It is a mark that was used for silver that was exhibited and sold at what were a series of expositions
held in the early part of the 20th century in France by the French government to promote goods from French
colonies.

Known “Exposition Coloniale
Internationale”, they were held in Paris
and Marseille in 1906, 1922 and 1931.

The mark “DAC” stands for “Des Arts
Cambodgiens” and was used as a
collective mark for individual
silversmiths who were commissioned
to create items specifically for these
events. It is because of this, many of
the items found today carrying this
mark also carry a French import park.

These fairs were highly lavish and
certainly rivalled the many other
international expos that were held
around the world from the late 19th
century into the 20th century and even
after World War II when the Festival of
Britain [1951] and the Brussels World
Fair [1958] were held.