Page 275 - Chinese SIlver By Adrien Von Ferscht

GAN SHENG [aka: C.Y.S]
Hong Kong
circa 1895-1930

Gan Sheng - a small retail silversmith operating in Hong
Kong but certainly a silversmith with a discerning eye for
both style and quality.
What might seem a natural design for a pair of Chinese
silver candlesticks, a simple bamboo cane is almost unique
and Gan Sheng has done them proud in this pair [left].

Although quite a rare silver mark to come across today, the
examples that have been recorded show that Gan Sheng
was one of those Chinese silversmiths who knew how to
combine Chinese decorative motifs with a fairly neo-
classical Western form.

But Gan Shgeng
could pull out all the
stops and be overtly
Chinese, translating
it into a comfortable
Western manner. The
intricately reticulated
candlesticks [right] could never have been influenced by traditional
“huangbiao” columns.

Gan Sheng obviously had an affinity for candlesticks! - but Gan Sheng
obviously knew when it was appropriate to make a dramatic statement;
the tea and coffee service [following illustration] would be like most
other versions of the same set available at the time, but marrying it with
the large over tray makes it a statement set.

There’s nothing particularly
genius about this suite of silver
but it’s more a case of knowing
exactly when enough is enough
and Gan Sheng got it right while
maintaining a high quality.

Images courtesy of Wax Antiques,
London; Christie’ s, South
Kensington, UK

http://chinese-export-silver.com
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