Page 984 - Chinese SIlver By Adrien Von Ferscht

LAO QING YUN
Shanghai
circa [start date unrecorded]-1930

One of the so-called “Nine Factories” in Shanghai. A rare mark to find. No documentary evidence of any
relationship or connection with Lao Qing Yun, Tientsin
The transformation of Shanghai to a treaty port had a similar impact to the already established silver making
tradition in the city. As with Canton, Shanghai had a core element of silversmiths, some of whom dated back to
the 18th century, since silver making was very much a traditional dynastic family artisan trade; the oldest known
silversmith being Lao Qing Yun. What was particularly interesting was to see how some of the established
makers were themselves in a transition, creating silver for the traditional “home market” as well as for the
burgeoning export trade. These makers, many of whom were retail silversmiths, were slowly joined by new
names as the resident international community in Shanghai and the export trades grew.

LAO TIAN BAO
Shanghai
circa 1885-1940

No known connection with Lao Tian Bao, Tientsin and no connection with Lao Tian Li, cloisonné maker in
Beijing