Title
A Chinese export silver box
Year/Period
1842–1945
Region
China, Canton
Object Type
Material
Technique
Dimension
Object size: 5.7 x 9.3 cm,
Object size: 6.9 x 8.9 x 8.9 cm
Object size: 6.9 x 8.9 x 8.9 cm
Accession No.
2022-00632
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of the Estate of Shirley Z. Johnson
This cylindrical covered box is decorated with overlayed appliqued silver motifs of bamboo. The circular silver box has a vermilion interior and may have been used for ink. The silver box is marked “WH” for Wang Hing & Co., a retail silversmith that operated between mid-19th to mid-20th century in China, Canton.Such Chinese export silver items were regularly produced from the 18th to mid-20th century. Though earlier pieces tended to imitate European aesthetics and motifs, increased awareness and demand resulted in the introduction of Chinese motifs and decorations. High quality workmanship at a low labour cost added greatly to the demand and appeal for such a market.
