Page 950 - Chinese SIlver By Adrien Von Ferscht

YU CHANG [YUCHANG]
Tientsin [Tianjin] - also at 155 Connaught Road, Hong Kong
circa 1900-1940+

YU CHANG and YE CHING both of Tientsin [Tianjin] were operating the same workshop [see separate Yu Chang
entry]. Yu Chang silver items were generally more sophisticated than those with Ye Ching marks. It is believed
that YC&Co and YC marks were also, confusingly, from the same workshop.

Because Yu Chang items were far more sophisticated and as a collection of silver presented as a more definitive
house style, it is believed a Hong Kong retail shop under the Yu Chang name also operated. Research is
ongoing to verify this, but it seems highly likely this was so given Yu Chang presentation items were relatively
common and Hong Kong was where the market was best for these items.

This imposing jug is a piece of Chinese
history; made for the United States’ 15th
Infantry Regiment, it carries their insignia
which also verifies they served in China
during the “Boxer Rebellion” [1900-1938]
since the insignia has the additional
Chinese dragon.
While this jug may not be a particularly
typical item of Yu Chang silver, it certainly
is a fine example of the quality of both silver
and workmanship the Yu Chang workshop
could produce.

Given the Boxer Rebellion link, Tientsin is a
logical place to have had this piece
commissioned.

The following tea and coffee set with
matching tray is an incredibly stylish set of
silver and would stand the test of
competing with any world-class silversmith
creating Art Deco works

The set dated to circa 1925