Page 679 - Chinese SIlver By Adrien Von Ferscht

T.H.Y. [aka: TAI HENG YUAN]
Shanghai & Peking [Beijing]
circa 1870-1940+

Tai Heng Yuan was a manufacturing retail
silversmith who operated in both Peking and
Shanghai, creating items of silver mainly for the
home Chinese market.

As with many Chinese silversmiths, the artisan
skill was very much a dynastic family one and
circa 1915 a “branch” shop was opened under
the name Tai Heng Yuan Fang Ji; a common
phenomenon and particularly with Shanghai
silversmiths.

The marks featured [above] are for Tai Heng Yuan
Fang Ji ; being the part of the mark denoting
Fang Ji.

In 1921, the name of the branch shop changed to
Tai Heng Yuan Chang Ji

Post 1949, the name T.H.Y. became company
name, probably through the nationalisation plan

The teapot [left] is an example of the post
1915 branch opening; it is likely nearer
1920. The pot is quite different in style from
that of most Chinese silversmiths operating
during the Chinese Export Silver
manufacturing period.

The treatment of the base and top frieze
decoration is particularly interesting - even
the shape of the spout is quite different
from most contemporary Chinese silver.
Overall, this teapot shines a spotlight on a
quite extraordinary level of skill.

Images courtesy of Da Wei Wang Hua [David
Wang], Madrid

http://chinese-export-silver.com Image Library Archive