Page 293 - Chinese SIlver By Adrien Von Ferscht

H.M.
Canton & Hong Kong
circa 1854-1941

This is one of the most annoying silver marks in the entire Chinese Export Silver repertoire. It is also one of the
most mis-leading.
What appears to be a mark for “H.M.” is actually an inaccurately struck mark for “W.H.” - in other words, the
mark for WANG HING & Co.
The numeral “9” has been struck using an inverted “G”.

Only very few of the artisan silversmiths, or the artisans in the silver workshops, would have been literate at this
time - that is, they were not literate in the Chinese [or Cantonese] written form. They therefore were likely to
have been completely unable to read Latin letters. It is obvious the artisan responsible for these marks thought
an inverted “G” would suffice for a number “9” that was probably missing.

Spelling and
grammar errors were
quite common in
Chinese silver
marks. Often the
marks were made
using single punch
dies for Latin letters
and Roman
numerals.

This means this
bowl, for example, is
not by a mysterious
unknown silversmith
MH but is a Wang
Hing bowl - the “M”
is being used as a
“W” and the “G” as a
“9”.