Page 611 - Chinese SIlver By Adrien Von Ferscht

Here, though, is something entirely different and somewhat of a piece de resistance; a pair of large circa 1890
ewers that both carry the mark of Qiu Ji without any accompanying retail silversmith mark. The style of the
ewers indicates they were certainly not made for the British market and more probably for the American market,
although central Europe or even Imperial Russia could also be distinct possibilities.
From the lack of any retail silversmith’s marks one can assume that either Qiu Ji was also selling independent
of retailers or the ewers may have been a special bespoke order. I am inclined to believe it is the latter given the
highly unusual style.

The ewers’ last “home” was as part of a major private New York collection that has since been dispersed.

Images courtesy of Bonhams, San Francisco; Christie’s, New York; Weschler’s Auctions, Washington DC; Koopman
Rare Art, London

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