Important Silversmiths – Tuck Chang
19th Century Chinese solid silver large decorative jewellery box, of rectangular form, decorated in repousse' high relief, on very finely tooled matted ground, depicting birds perched on blossoming cherry trees and blossoming chrysanthemums. The box is particularly large, heavy and very well crafted, by one of the most rare and outstanding silversmiths at the time, inside fitted with a contemporary velvet lined jewelery compartment.
Hallmarked with Chinese silver marks, maker's mark for Tuck Chang & Company.
Reference Number: A5199
Active in the late 19th Century, Tuck Chang is undoubtedly the most popular retail silversmith of Shanghai, thus often referred to as the ‘Wang Hing of Shanghai’.
Like Wang Hing, the firm also traded in jade, ivory and jewellery.
Tuck Chang relied on several artisans to keep up with the demand of silver trophies, souvenirs, tea sets and high quality gift items required by the international resident community of Shanghai.
Despite the large number of items produced, the company managed to maintain very high quality standards and innovative designs, aware of the most recent western trends.
He created a style other than that of Canton and Hong Kong, combining Chinese traditional motifs and western taste, fusing the Victorian and the Chinese style and later embracing and reinterpreting the Art Deco models.
20th Century Chinese export silver three piece tea set on tray, comprising of teapot, lidded sugar bowl and milk jug and tray, each tree-trunk shaped body applied with prunus flowers and applied with decoration in relief, spout, handles and finials modelled as tree branches, inside richly gilt, the tray in unique complimentary style.
Reference Number: A5382
19th Century Chinese export solid silver cased tea cup and saucer, the cup stunningly embossed and chased in relief with a dragon emerging from clouds on a finely tooled ground, the handle simulating wooden branches, the saucers engraved with a dragon. The set features very high craftsmanship and reveals a perfect condition, it comes in the original fitted wooden box lined in blue silk and applied with brass handle. Each piece is Hallmarked Chinese Export silver, Makers mark "TC" for Tuck Chang & Co.
Reference Number: C5067