Page 503 - Chinese SIlver By Adrien Von Ferscht

The marrow scoop, an almost
ubiquitous necessity of Georgian
flatware and Lin Chong was one of
the few Chinese retail silversmith to
create faithful versions.

A circa 1830 cowry shell snuff box
[below] has been both cunningly and
masterfully created by Lin Chong.

Historically, the cowrie shells were
used in China as currency.

Another example of Lin Chong’s empathy of the neo-
classical with this lidded sugar basin. When this item
appeared at auction, it was described as having an eagle
finial; I would like to think this is a sample of humour of
the silversmith, because I believe this might well be a
magpie - not only an auspicious bird in Chinese art
culture but in Western art it would be trying to steal a
cubed piece of sugar which, in the early 19th century,
was still incredibly valuable.