Page 919 - Chinese SIlver By Adrien Von Ferscht

YAT SHING [aka: YATSHING; Y.S.]
Old China Street, Canton
circa 1825-1900

One of the early Chinese retail silversmiths who was also one of the first
to create rosewater sprinklers in the Western neo-classical style.
Since Chinese Export Silver began to be studied in the 1960s, it has
puzzled researchers and collectors why, what is essentially either an
Islamic or Jewish ceremonial object, should be made in this style - as
many were. After much delving, the mystery has been final solved. The
renowned retail and manufacturing silversmiths ISMAIL & RAHEEM in
Singapore and Penang would commission them from several Chinese
silversmiths in Canton.
Towards the end of the 19th century, there were several Sultanates and
Kingdoms in South East Asia who all patronised Ismail & Raheem. What

is interesting is that Cantonese silversmiths were favoured over
Chinese silversmiths who were living and working in both Singapore
and Penang - perhaps this is testament to the quality of silver and
workmanship of the Canton silversmiths. The majority of sultanates and
kingdoms were either colonies or protectorates of Great Britain. This
created the fusion of Western neo-classicism with the Eastern ritual
objects such as rosewater sprinklers.