Page 795 - Chinese SIlver By Adrien Von Ferscht
P. 795
W.S. [aka: WO SHING; WOSHING; WAH SHING]
Kiangse Road, Shanghai
circa 1850-1925
An unusual Wo Shing mark as “Shanghai” has been mis-spelled in the location punch
mark as “SHINGHAI” - this is not an isolated example involving Wo Shing or
Shanghai!
Wo Shing was a Shanghai-based retail silversmith which, apart from commissioning a
substantial amount of Chinese Export Silver items, was also know for carved ivory,
jade and even gold. It is comparable to Wang Hing inasmuch as it became known in
Shanghai as a place to order bespoke silver items such as trophy cups and other
commemorabilia.
Mis-spelling of English names in
Chinese silver marks was common.
Wa h S h i n g i s a n a l t e r n a t i v e
transliteration of Wo Shing!
Woo Shing is also Wo Shing!!
It has been long-believed that Wo Shing had a relatively short silver manufacturing period, but the recent
appearance of several items that appeared later than the previously held 1870 cut-off date. This has been
further confirmed by the following presentation piece that although clearly influenced by the neo-classical, its
base and handles are in line with the date inscribed on the cup itself:
