Page 706 - Chinese SIlver By Adrien Von Ferscht

The salver [previous illustration] clearly demonstrates that Tai Shan silver items were of an extremely high
quality. Being a fusion of neo-classical form and Chinese traditional decoration, it should be taken in the context
that Beijing had a designated walled and gated international area very close to the Forbidden City where many
of the foreign legations were located as well as retailers that supplied both the foreign residents and the
Imperial Court, including the concubines and eunuchs

Superbly reticulated pillar candlesticks [above] in the
traditional Chinese style, the form of the bobeches quite
normal for this style of candlestick as is the insetting of the
bases into carved hardwood bases. Several pairs of these
candlesticks have been recorded in auctions around the
world in the past 10 years.

In contrast, the classical columns [left] are decorated with
acanthus and shell motifs and clearly made with a Western
client in mind, although stylistically it is difficult to place
exactly where. Superb quality and the type of high quality
one would expect to find in close proximity to foreign
legations and a large Imperial Court household.