Page 359 - Chinese SIlver By Adrien Von Ferscht

HUNG FENG
Jiŭjiāng
circa 1880-1915

There is only one recorded instance of the silversmith’s mark and it is clearly an artisan mark.

The item that carries the mark is this latter half of the
19th century seal that is in the form of a turtle or
tortoise bearing an obelisk.

Inscriptions on the piece translate as “By Imperial
Command”. The inscription on the shaft translates as
“May all your wishes come true” or words to that
effect.

This could have been given by the Emperor as a gift;
such seals were commonly used by the nobility and
literati. Turtles with obelisks are also the form taken of
several known Chinese Export Silver sanders or
pounces that visually are almost identical to this piece
- both usages are connected to writing.

At some point, this item appears to have been
impressed with an English coat of arms that indicate
that owner was a woman.

Images courtesy of Ralph M Chait Galleries, New York

http://chinese-export-
silver.com
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