Page 713 - Chinese SIlver By Adrien Von Ferscht
P. 713
TE CHU [aka: TECHU]
Singapore
circa 1900-1930
A Chinese silversmith operating in Singapore producing high quality items, mainly in the Straits Chinese silver
style. Tè chū, , means “outstanding”.
The large oval tray [left/below] is of
very high quality and of heavy gauge
silver. The foliate border is typically
Straits/Peranakan style, the crab stock
handle a decorative feature used by
many Chinese silversmiths in
conjunction with the prunus branch or
trunk as well as Staffordshire potters
from the 18th century and French
porcelain maker Sevres.
An expertly executed cigarette case
decorated with two dragons chasing a
central flaming pearl against a finely
planished ground. While the case is of
obvious Chinese decorative influences, it
lacks the look and feel of silver produced in
China or Hong Kong circa 1900.
Images courtesy of Bonhams, New York;
http://chinese-export-silver.com
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