Page 958 - Chinese SIlver By Adrien Von Ferscht

Almost at the other end of the style
scale, this example of early silver
from Yu Yuan Zheng - probably
circa 1840. Totally in the neo-
classical “Regency” style, this
could so easily be mistaken for a
piece of English silver.

It is quite remarkable that such fine
examples of what are extremely
opposing styles could be achieved
from the same workshop - both
styles intrinsically not Chinese.

Again, difficult to date this reticulated card
case. At first glance it would seem to be circa
1890, but by focussing on the wave motif at the
bottom of the case and the stylised water lilies
emerging from it, this could be circa 1905 or
even approaching Art Deco.

It seems that whoever was the mind and hand
behind this workshop, he liked to create
illusions but also was a true master of his craft.

Images courtesy of Bonhams, San Francisco;
WorthPoint;

http://chinese-
export-silver.com
Image Library Archive