Important Silversmiths – Da Xing
19th Century Chinese solid silver exceptionally large and unusual water ewer, the straight body beautifully chased along the main body with a rising sun amongst mountains and river landscape, the foot, lid and spout intricately engraved with flowers and birds
Hallmarked with Da Xing mark.
Reference Number: A4626
Da Xing is a well-known silversmith active both in Canton and Singapore in the second half of 19th Century.
Famous for its fine craftsmanship, Da Xing produced silver for the wealthiest families in Malacca. He is in fact one of the few mainland Chinese silversmiths to produce Straits Chinese silver and to be active in Malaya and Singapore. Straits Chinese or Peranakan silver merges the Hindu-Islamic culture, visible in the shape and function of the items, with the Chinese tradition, evident in design and motifs.
Da Xing’s artworks show an exquisite quality and are generally decorated in the traditional Chinese style. Nevertheless, the mark is still subject of debate as it has been found on Chinese Export silver, Thai and Peranakan objects. Question has to be asked whether Da Xing represents the same firm with various branches and workshops in Asia or different shops.
19th Century Chinese Export silver filigree and enamel table mirror, very large and exceptionally fine, resting on four fish-shaped feet, applied with a blue and green enamelled filigree frame, intricately crafted creating flowers and leaves, the back and the side of the mirror is also finely decorated with enamelled filigree-work. Hallmarked with Chinese marks (900+ silver standard), year about 1870-90, Maker's mark for Da Xing.
Genuinely antique Chinese enamelled filigree pieces are exceptionally rare, most of them are now in museums or important private collections. The mirror here presented appears to be exceptional for size, rarity and quality, probably produced for a wealthy Chinese clientele and not for export.
Reference Number: A3413
19th Century Chinese Export Silver large box, of rectangular form, decorated in repousse' relief with various figures in a landscape, including fighting warriors, dignitaries, attendants amongst palaces and pavillions and a military procession along the sides. Hallmarked Chinese Export silver underneath (900+ standard), Maker's mark for Da Xing.
Reference Number: A3688