Page 692 - Chinese SIlver By Adrien Von Ferscht

TACK HING LAU [AKA: DE XING LOU]
Canton
circa 1870-1920

This maker has no relationship with Tack Hing of
Hong Kong as far as current research shows

A rare and rather obscure retail silversmith,
having silver items of essentially of Western
form embellished with classical Chinese motifs
but of high quality.

The goblet [left], although an item that is almost
ubiquitous to Chinese Export Silver in general,
has been given a quite different decorative
treatment. Where extravagant repoussé work is
normally de rigueur, the silversmith has opted
for a semi matt plain ground with an applied
motif that has quite a flat profile. The tripod
bamboo legs are far more simple than usually
found and even the mound of stylised exposed
root system has a more simplified interpretation
of what is a traditional allegorical motif. But the
overall goblet is both striking and pleasing; it is
also well executed.