China may not be widely perceived as having been a historic producer of decorative silver wares, but the reality is that it has a heritage of silver-making that goes back over 2000 years. As with most countries that have an affinity with silver, China’s early decorative silver demonstrates influences from outside of China. These influences tend to have come from nations and empires that lay along the ancient Silk Road; in the 17th century, the influences came mainly from Europe.
Silver products for export were produced in China from the mid-18th century, principally for the Western market. Made in European style from melted Spanish silver, which at the time was the only trading currency Chinese merchants would accept. The trade was restricted to the port of Canton (now Guangzhou) the only outlet able to facilitate the collection of taxes.
As can be seen from the various images, an item of Chinese export silver is never simply a piece of silver; it is a rich cultural narrative as well as being an item of beauty, immense craftsmanship and extraordinary creativity. Humour is often attached to silver, – in many items, the joy the silversmith experienced in the making, manifests itself in the decoration.
Chinese culture allowed for freedom of expression, combined with traditional decorative motifs, which convey specific narratives. While much of this is lost to us in the West, the beauty, craftsmanship and creativity is visible; it’s simply a case of how the mindset interprets and understands that beauty. Chinese export silver is a superb vehicle with which to demonstrate both China’s rich history and rich silver-making heritage.
Most pieces of Chinese export silver are stamped with marks of the workshop or pseudo hallmarks seeking to imitate English hallmarks. Wang Hing & Co who traded 1854-1941 was probably responsible for producing more Chinese export silver than any other silversmith. The company was also one of the first to establish a large retail emporium that grew to sell a wide variety of luxury goods. Wang Hing & Co begun just after the 1842 Treaty of Nanking by the Lo Family who lived in Canton. In the late 1860’s, the eldest son Lo Kit Ping took the helm, however it was until the 1920’s that a purpose-built store was established in Hong Kong. This store was run by Lo Hung Tong. The Lo family members insisted on designing and overseeing the quality of every item of silver that was made.
