Page 820 - Chinese SIlver By Adrien Von Ferscht

The 1985 work of John Devereux Kernan, “The Chait Collection of Chinese Export Silver” and the book “Antique
Trader Oriental Antiques & Art” edited by Mark Moran and published in 2003 as a 2nd Edition are the two
sources where it appears the Wang Hing/Tiffany myth arose. There was no known working relationship between
Wang Hing and Tiffany & Co.

Wang Hing & Co begun just after the 1842 Treaty of Nanking by the Lo Family who lived in Xiguan, cheek by jowl
with Shameen Island in Canton where the 13 Hongs had been situated. In the late 1860’s, the eldest son Lo Kit
Ping took the helm. It wasn’t until the early 1920’s that a purpose-built flagship store was decided to be built on
Queen’s Road, Hong Kong. This store was run by Lo Hung Tong.

The Lo Family began trading in jade in the mid 19th century
and from the very beginning of the first Wang Hing shop in
Canton, while Chinese Export Silver had the largest focus,
jade, lacquerware, jewellery, silks and even gold formed part
of the overall inventory of luxury goods that were offered.

The Lo family members insisted on designing and overseeing
the quality of every item of silver that was made for them and
it was from their Hong Kong emporium they fast established
the reputation as the place to go to order bespoke trophies
and commemorative items that became part of the thriving
men’s clubs and sporting clubs that became synonymous with
Hong Kong.

The regimental drum-form cigar lighter [left] was ordered from
Wang Hing and is inscribed for “The Queen’s Royal 1st
Battalion Regiment.