Page 976 - Chinese SIlver By Adrien Von Ferscht

ZHENG LI
Canton
circa 1860-1900

The Zheng Li silver mark is very rare; it is also only recorded as having appeared on silver bosun’s pipes
[whistles].

During and immediately after the China Trade period with the merchant naval trades in controlling positions, it
was only natural that maritime-related silver items began to be made in Canton. Georgian and early Victorian
silver bosun’s (boatswain’s) pipes [technically they are not whistles but are referred to as “whistles” by
“landlubbers”] were already a requisite of any high-ranking master seaman of note, so it was only a short time
after the trade treaties came into force that Chinese Export Silver bosun’s pipes became de rigueur—Georgian
in style with a quirky Chinese twist.

European wriggle work has been used to decorate this particular pipe is hardly ever seen on any other items of
Chinese silver.

Images courtesy of Christie’s, New York;

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