Page 775 - Chinese SIlver By Adrien Von Ferscht

V.N.
Vietnam
circa 1895-1905

This mark is one of several conundrums that had plagued the Chinese Export Silver repertoire for many years.
Given only one single example of this mark had been recorded [and consequently one single item bearing the
mark - the illustrated knife rest] it was widely believed that it may have been a mis-stamped mark intended for
the Hong Kong retail silversmith Wing Nam.

The mark has an additional Russian mark which indicates it entered Russia in the early 20th century.

The knife rest appeared in 1985 Chait Collection catalogue written ny John Devereux Kernan and published by
The Ralph M Chait Galleries in New York.

Recently, a tea pot appeared at auction that was identified as being “Chinese Export Silver” that carried the
same “V.N.” mark which is clearly marked as being “VIET-NAM”. The teapot may look at first glance to be
Chinese in style, but there are certain characteristics of the tea pot that are not typical of late19th or early 20th
century Chinese silver - the split end to the spout and the tiered dome of the lid topped by a finial that is atypical
of the Chinese style.