Posted 9 years ago
vetraio50
(751 items)
I have had this nearly thirty years now. It came from a market out west in Sydney Australia. Originally it would have been bought at the premises of HUNG CHONG and Co., 11B Nanking Road, Shanghai.
It is in two pieces.
The box itself is made of cardboard but lined in beautifully pleated white silk. The lid is a pincushion covered in a purple velvet, The true colour of the velvet can only be seen when the lid is open. The lid is missing its lining revealing the structure of the sewn velvet lid.
The silver box is a case for the cardboard box and lid.
Notice the curve in the rectangular sides.
The silver box is decorated with a repoussé design of chrysanthemums against a finely stippled background. The shield on the front of the box has been left vacant. It has four sterling silver globe feet.
It bears the HC mark of HUNG CHONG and Co. There is another mark too that I believe is the Chinese character "Shang". I do not know of its significance but I have seen the same mark on another Hung Chong chrysanthemum pattern box.
The quality of the silver work is outstanding.
It would date to c. 1905.
"The wonderful proficiency of the Chinese in the manufacture of gold and silver work, jewellery, ivory carvings, black wood and inlaid furniture, silk, embroidery, etc., finds, an excellent demonstration in the large stock in the premises of Messrs. Hung Chong and Co. The range of beautiful articles exhibited here is an epitome of the highest achievements of Chinese skill and art, and affords a splendid selection to those on the outlook for choice specimens of the most superior goods associated with the race. Here can be obtained articles which the best connoisseurs would value, while there is. a great abundance of wonderfully cheap curios and fancy goods of all kinds within the reach of the most limited exchequers, and eminently suitable for birthday or wedding presents."
http://925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=24259
ANOTHER STUNNER!!!!!
Many thanks SEAN !!!!!
Your very welcome Kevin!!
Many thanks VIOLET-ORANGE !!!!!
Great Piece -- and GREAT info!!
Thanks for the Post !!
It's lovely!
Many thanks VLADIMIR, AGHCOLLECT, ELISABETHAN 'n ANTIQUEROSE !!!!!
Lovely!!!
and the advertisement too, j'adore :-)
Many thanks KYRATANGO !!!!!!
Many thanks MIKELV !!!!
Many thanks PATSEA !!!!!!
Lovely!My first thought was it's a sewing box (pin cushion),but it's very elegant and has soft padding,so perhaps a lady kept her hat pins in it?
Many thanks IVONNE, ROBIN, CINDB 'n DON too !!!!!
Thanks for those comments IVONNE. Hat pins was my thought but I'm open to suggestions. These days I keep a couple of things inside ... Lorgnette and beads.
What a beautiful box and I love how you elegantly describe each piece. Learning so much from you... Thank you
Many thanks NADIA, NUTSABOTAS, CINDB, VINTAGELAMP, PHIL 'n FLEDERMAUS !!!!!!
Many thanks ANNEL. !!!!!
Many thanks SMIATA !!!!!!
Many thanks KATHERINESCOLLECTIONS !!!!!
Hung Chong?? My buddy worked there, his name was One Hung Low. Small world.
Many thanks FHRJR2 !!!!
ONE SMALL WORLD !!!!
Nearly thirty years! What took you so long to post this? I love it!
Many thanks POPS !!!!!!
Just beautiful!...:-)
Many thanks INKY !!!!!
Many thanks TONINO !!!!!
This is stunning Kevin similar to one I have on site but I would say yours is much older & I prefer.
Many thanks ZOWIE 'n NORICMAN !!!!!!!
Many thanks OFFICALFUEL !!!!!
Pleasure it is stunning
You are so kind, ZOWIE !!!!!!
It pleases me that you think so Kev we get the tail end again of the Cyclone Nathan again so far it's only been some light rain but I expect it will get some more during the day that's why 'm doing this now while I can it's to much hard work if I leave certain things for a couple of day's. Have a top day mate be safe
Many thanks TREY 'n SKLO too !!!!!
Many thanks ALAN, GARGOYLECOLLECTOR, MANIKIN & FREIHEIT !!!!!!
Many thanks LUNDY !!!!!
Many thanks TRUTHISANARROW !!!!!!!!
Many thanks ROYCROFTBOOKSFROMME !!!!!!!
Many thanks PEASEJEAN !!!!!!!
Many thanks LORILOVESVINTAGE !!!!!!!
wonderful chrisantemun. What a good definition
Many thanks KIVATINITZ !!!!!!
Many thanks BRATJDD !!!!!!
Many thanks TONINO !!!!!!
This is a lovely box! It reminded me that I have a Wang Hing silver card case with lovely chrysanthemums -- I Googled Wang Hing and found a very interesting article about the supposed connection between Wang Hing and Tiffany. It has a lot of details on the Chinese silver export trade. http://chinese-export-silver.com/wang-hingtiffany-co/ So much to learn!
Many thanks BLUBOI for your kind comments! The Wang Hing pieces are different though .... not as highly worked as the Hung Chong pieces.
Kevin I have so far found 3 people I'm following gone for a split second I thought you were also so glad I finely got your post. Still trying to put it together it's such a great site & everyone has been so helpful to me I just don't understand I thought we were all adults on this site. Heart broken
Hi Zowie !!! Still here !!!
I'm glad you are at that anyway I still kept your private email if that's ok with you as I would like to keep in contact as you never know there are a few people from Australia I may be able to catch up with personal contact one day as it would be nice. May be worth a laugh for us all
Right on !!!!!
Laughter is good for the soul
Many thanks VINTAGEFRAN & RADEGRUNDER !!!!!!
I am an amateur when it comes to terminology and knowledge about metal. When you say highly worked, does this mean the height of the repousee? Perhaps you could compare to my Wang Hing box as it has chrysanthemums also... ;-)
http://photos.imageevent.com/bluboi/new/websize/Wang%20Hing%20silver%20case2.jpg
Thanks!
Many thanks ANTIQUEROSE & BLUBOI !!!!!!
Hi BLUBOI !!! It's probably me rather than you who is unclear ..... I was meaning the background rather than the flowers and stems.
The effect of the hammer work on the Hung Chong pieces gives a different effect .... It looks greyer to my eye. If you look at the three examples in the link Chinese export silver link article you quote the Wang Hing piece surface looks more 'carved'. The Tiffany workshop version is different too, no?
My photos don't really show the hammer work on my piece.
Ah, that makes sense. The Wang Hing pieces definitely aren't worked in the background. Thanks!
Many thanks PEASEJEAN !!!!!!
Many thanks TEDSTRAUB !!!!!!
Many thanks PETEY !!!!!
Many thanks SERGEY !!!!!
Many thanks ROYCROFTBOOKSFROMME !!!!!!
Hi, Thats a beautiful box thank you for sharing
Many thanks FLORIDAPICKER !!!!!
Many thanks KERRY10456 !!!!!
Can't believe this stunning piece has eluded me until today.....Outstanding graphics in photos, bet in "Real life" this is skip a heartbeat moment to behold. Simply stunning and silver, two great qualities fused together in one package.
Many thanks KERRY 10456, ANNELANDERS & CAPERKID too !!!!!!!
Many thanks AURA !!!!!
Many thanks BETTYB00 !!! !!! !!!
Many thanks OROYOROY !!!!
Many thanks QUANTUNPHYSICA & STORAGEGIRL !!!!!
Many thanks SURFDUB & OLDBOXADDICT !!!!!
Very nice, I love this!
Many thanks TLYNNIE & TIGRA.
MY APOLOGIES TLYNNIE !!!!
Many thanks NEWFLD !!!!!!!
Many thanks RENEDIJKSTRA. Your opinion is always appreciated here in Oz !!!!
Many thanks NICEFICE & RADEGRUNDER !.!!.!.!!.!