Important Silversmiths – Cheong Lam
20th Century pair of Chinese Export Silver epergnes, each impressively large and heavy, the detachable circular bowls chased with flowers, the stem is modelled as three cast five-clawed dragons, each holding a basket on the tips of the tongue. Hallmarked Chinese silver (900+ standard), Mark "CL" for CHEONG LAM.
Reference Number: A3255
Scholar Adrien Von Ferscht described Cheong Lam as ‘a sadly all too rare retail silversmith whose work demonstrates clearly a highly creative mind and a quest for the highest quality’ (A. Von Ferscht, Chinese Export Silver 1785-1940, 4th edition 2015).
Cheong Lam - as many other Chinese silversmiths of the time - marked his silverware with a pseudo-hallmark imitating the English hallmark system, in his case ‘CL’.
Unfortunately the identity of this maker is still a mystery. Nevertheless Cheong Lam’s items reveal a superbe technique and a highly creative mind, often combining traditional Chinese motifs with irony and elegance.
For the extraordinary quality of his pieces and his rarity, Cheong Lam is nowadays very sought after among collectors.