Page 98 - Chinese SIlver By Adrien Von Ferscht

Chinese Export Silver items have appeared at auctions and online masquerading as being
“early” examples of this silver category. They often carry a silver and date mark similar to
the one shown below - invariably an inserted button-shaped lozenge.

The mark on the left is trying to tell us the maker, Qi Sheng, made the piece during the
Qing Kangxi period [1662-1722]; the mark on the right, “Imperial Made Qing Dynasty”.

Firstly, no silver made during the Chinese Export Silver manufacturing period would ever
carry such a mark. Secondly, these “plug marks” are new and any mark struck over 300
years ago would not look so pristine and crisp.

While Kangxi silver would not
technically be Chinese Export
Silver, the silver produced during
that reign was invariably not
marked.

This genuine Kangxi silver-gilt
teapot is typical of the period and
carries no silver mark other than
an English scratch-weight mark [25
referring to 25 ounces].

This item sold for $92,500 and
rightly so.