Page 310 - Chinese SIlver By Adrien Von Ferscht

HENG LI
Tientsin
circa 1870-1935

Heng Li is considered to have been one of the finest of the Tientsin makers; Tientsin had one of the oldest
traditions of silver making in China.

Heng Li was a retail silversmith who, like many of his
counterparts, devised quite a definitive house-style
that mainly used traditional Chinese decorative motifs.
From time to time, one can discover an item that has a
neo-classical bent but will almost certainly be
decorated in the Chinese style. This circa 1880 helmet-
shaped jug is one such a piece but what it also
manages to do is demonstrate the quality of Heng Li
silver.
One could well think this piece would have been a
special order but interestingly the shield-shaped
central cartouche remains vacant.

This chrysanthemum decorated bowl can be seen in
many Chinese Export Silver makers’ repertoire but
this Heng Li version shows far more sensitivity and
attention to detailing than most, in particular the top