Chinese Export Silver & Far East Trade Information

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dognose
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Re: Chinese Export Silver & Far East Trade Information

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YANG CHING HO

Shanghai

A newspaper article that gives the latest date for the work of Yang Ching Ho:

Modern Hair Styles Ruin Silver Shop

The westernisation of Chinese woman was blamed as the chief factor in the depression that caused the closure recently of the Yang Ching Ho Silversmith Shop, in one of the biggest silversmiths' shops in Shanghai.

Silver ornaments, it was pointed out, are no longer wanted as Chinese women of today have no love for the beauty of their hair from the conservative Chinese point of view. Instead of the time-honoured fashion of a knot, Chinese women now have bobbed hair, many with permanent waves through artificial methods.

Thus all the ornaments made of silver that used to decorate the knot have been shelved, and business of local silversmith shops becomes exceedingly dull.

In view of these circumstances, the Yang Ching Ho Silversmith Shop, at a recent shareholders' meeting, decided to suspend business. In a notice put up at the door, it is announced that all those who have placed orders with the shop should call at the shop within ten days for their goods.


Source: The Straits Times - 4th July 1937

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KWONG CHEONG LOONG

59, High Street, Singapore

DEATHS

NG. - On July 26, 1939 at No.22, Butterworth Lane, Singapore, Mr. Ng Khin Foong, 52 years, founder of Chop Kwong Cheong Loong, goldsmith of No.59, High Street, Singapore. He is survived by his widow, 5 sons, Messrs. Ng Yook Fah and Ng Yook Lin and Masters Yook Wee, Yook Kim and Yook Loong. Five daughters and several grand-children. The funeral will take place on Saturday, July 29, 1939. The cortege leaving the residence at 1 p.m. for the private burial ground in Holland Road.


Source: The Straits Times - 28th July 1939

This appears to be a seperate business from that of Kwong Hing Loong & Co., who were located at Nos. 47, 48, and 49, High Street, Singapore. (see above post)

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Re: Chinese Export Silver & Far East Trade Information

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POH KONG CHYE

62, South Bridge Road, Singapore

Probably the longest lasting silversmiths in Singapore with a 107 year old history.

In 1929 they advertised the following:

POH KONG CHYE

Electro Platers and Gilders, Gold and Silversmiths

No. 62, South Bridge Road, Singapore. Phone 7772

Extension:- The Singapore Electro Plating Works, No.23-3, Coleman Street. Phone 4197

We Specialise in:-
(1) The Electro depositing of Gold, Silver, Nickel, Copper and Brass on to any metal for all trades.
(2) Polishing, Finishing, Burnishing and Repairing of all types of Gold, Silver and Metal Wares.
(3) Bronzing, Oxydising, Antique Silvering, Mercurial Gilding and Lacquering.
(4) Modern Process for Heavy Depositing of Gold and Silver on Jewellery and Table Wares.
(5) Re-Silvering and Cleaning of old, and tarnished Silver, or E.P.N.S. Wares, at moderate charge only.
(6) All work is done on our premises, and under the supervision of a highly trained expert electro-plater, Mr Ng Seak Khuan, who has experience in this line for over a QUARTER OF A CENTURY.


Poh Kong Chye were established in 1897, they went into receivership in 2004.

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CHONG AH TEONG

99, South Bridge Road, Singapore

Chong Ah Teong, a goldsmith of 99, South Bridge Road, has been robbed of $15 worth of gold by his coolie, Mok Chow, who has absconded.

Source: The Straits Times - 8th April 1913

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WAI-KEE 惠記珠寶有限公司

Shop 104, 1/F Prince's Building, 10 Chater Road, Hongkong 香港遮打道10號太子大廈1字樓104-105室

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1940

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1960's


Established at Hong Kong in 1885 and still in business today.

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H.M. GRUNBERG

588, Victoria Street, Singapore

Advertised in 1884:

H.M. GRUNBERG

GOLDSMITH and JEWELLER

Begs to inform the Ladies and Gentlemen of Singapore that he is prepared to execute orders for making and repairing jewellery of all kinds.

All orders left at No. 588, Victoria Street, next house to the Bible Depository, will be punctually and carefully attended to.


Source: The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser - 6th December 1884

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ADOLF KUNKE

81, Brass Bassa Road, Singapore

Adolf Kunke was a practical goldsmith, jeweller and engraver, who had arrived in Singapore by 1893, he had previously worked at Paris and Vienna. His first premises were noted as 81, Brass Bassa Road, but by 1896 he was noted as being located at 15, Battery Road, Singapore.

In 1897 Adolf Kunke left Singapore bound for Europe, but in Columbo he was arrested and deported back to Singapore, where he stood trial on charges of criminal misappropriation of diamonds and sovereigns, and two charges of misappropriation of money, he was found not guilty of the first charge, but guilty of the second charges, and sentenced to twelve months rigorous imprisonment.

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THAI NAKON

79 Prachathipatai Rd.
Baan Panthom
Phra Nakon, Bangkok 10200
Thailand

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The oldest established manufacturer of nielloware and silverware still surviving in Thailand (Siam), having been founded in 1932.

In 1946 H.M. King Ananda, Rama VIII, granted the Royal Garuda to Thai Nakon, and took it into His Royal Patronage. H.M. King Bhumipol, Rama IX, the present King, continues to patronize the firm. Thai Nakon are also Silversmiths to the Royal Court and the Royal Thai Government.

They produce full lines of holloware, flatware, giftware, jewellery, and trophies.

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One of the marks used by Thai Nakon.

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CHOW TAI FOOK

Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Co. Ltd.
38/F, New World Tower
16-18, Queen's Road
Hong Kong

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It's not a name that's very familiar in the west, but the world's largest jewellery business, as far as sales go, is that of the Hong Kong based firm of Chow Tai Fook. The business was established in 1929 in the former Portuguese colony of Macau by the goldsmith Chow Chi Yuen who named his business Chow Tai Fook, that roughly translates as good fortune.

Today the company has a incredible 1,700 outlets in Asia, nearly all in China, but also in Macau, Singapore,Taiwan, Malaysia, and fifty stores in Hong Kong alone, a figure that is only exceeded by Signet Jewelers (Kay Jewelers in the U.S. and H. Samuel in the UK) who have just over 1,800. Chow Tai Fook employ over 17,000 staff and also own a refinery and a diamond polishing facility in South Africa.

One of the marks used by Chow Tai Fook:

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AGAPITO FRANCISCO

769, Magdalena, Manila

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Agapito Francisco - Manila - 1922

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F.M. OHLENROTH

Soerabaia and Semarang, Java

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F.M. Ohlenroth - Soerabaia and Semarang - 1892

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F.M. Ohlenroth - Soerabaia and Semarang - 1895

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F.M. Ohlenroth - Soerabaia and Semarang - 1895

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F.M. Ohlenroth - Soerabaia and Semarang - 1895

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F.M. Ohlenroth - Semarang - 1905

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F.M. Ohlenroth - Semarang - 1922


Employments

Wanted - At Soerabaia a European Watchmaker, to commence at 150 guilders per month and with good prospects.
Applications accompanied with testimonials and stating age to F.M. Ohlenroth, Soerabaia.


Source: Straits Times - 16th February 1894

The Soerabaia branch of F.M. Ohlenroth appears to have been established in 1879, and the Semarang branch in 1889.

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PEO CHENG

Hong Kong

Peo Cheng's working period is thought to be c.1890 to c.1920.

The marks of Peo Cheng:

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F. CUNO

Heerenstraat, Semarang, Java

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F. Cuno - Semarang - 1899

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F. Cuno - Semarang - 1901

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F. Cuno - Semarang - 1902

F. Cuno opened his business at Semarang in 1899 after having been employed with Van Arcken & Co. of Batavia.

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LAO TIAN BAO

Tianjin

Example of the work of Lao Tian Bao:

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Lao Tian Bao's working period is thought to be 1895-1910.

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VAN ARCKEN & Co.

Batavia, Soerabaja, and Weltevreden, Java

This business was established in 1861 by the Pforzheim trained Watchmaker and Jeweller, Clemens Gerardus Franciscus van Arcken, it was to continue under three successive generations of the same family until it finally closed in 1958.

Silverwares such as flatware and cutlery were imported from the Netherlands and supplied by various firms including Helweg, van Kempen, Johannes Franciscus van den Broek, G. Greup and John Schijfsma Jz. On these imported wares an additional mark was applied by Van Arcken, a 'V A below a crown' contained within a circle. Gold and silverwares that were manufactured in their own workshops, were stamped with the maker's mark 'V-crown-A' contained within a hexagon.

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Van Arcken & Co. - Batavia and Soerabaja - 1907

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Van Arcken & Co. - Batavia and Soerabaja - 1903

Van Arcken & Co. exhibited at the Fifth National Industrial Exhibition of Japan that was held at Osaka in 1903.

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Details of the exhibits of Van Arcken & Co.:

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Van Arcken & Co. - Batavia and Soerabaja - 1906

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The native silversmiths hammer out beautiful designs in silver relief for all kinds of ornaments and articles of use, exhibiting great dexterity and taste, considering the crude instruments with which they work. A visit to the workshop of Messrs. Van Arken & Co. must not be omitted. Here you can see the natives at work with more modern tools than in general use, the newer facilities having been introduced by this well-known firm. This house is the "Tiffany" of the East, having executed extensive and valuable orders for the Royal House of Holland ( their Majesties having acknowledged the superior workmanship in the form of awards), various sultans, rajahs, kings, etc., of the East. They act, since 1861, as court jewelers to their Majesties the Emperor of Surakarta, Java, and the Sulton of Djokjakarta, Java. Although the manufacture cannot compete with European products, their gold and silverware bear a peculiar stamp and excel in beautiful finish. The visitor should by all means view the unique display in jewelry.

Source: From Occident to Orient and Around the World - 1907

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Van Arcken & Co. - Batavia and Soerabaja - 1920

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Van Arcken & Co. - Batavia and Soerabaja - 1925

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Re: Chinese Export Silver & Far East Trade Information

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Van Arcken & Co. - Batavia and Soerabaja Gold and silverwares that were manufactured in their own workshops were stamped with the maker's mark 'V-crown-A' contained within a hexagon.

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Below in Dutch but a Google translation will reveal most for our non Dutch readers.
http://www.zilverbank.nl/cachet_artikel ... ers-Douwes

Courtesy: zilverbank.nl
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R. POSER

Societeitstraat, Soerabaja, Java

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R. Poser - Soerabaja - 1898

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ASAHI SHOTEN Co. Ltd.

Imperial Hotel Arcade, 1-1, Uchisaiwai-cho 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Japanese retailer in business since at least the 1930's. At one point they were noted as having a branch at the U.S. Naval Supply Depot at Sasebo (the U.S. Navy base at Sasebo opened in 1946).

Some examples of silverware marked by Asahi Shoten:


Four piece tea/coffee set:

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'Rising Sun' - 'Asahi Shoten' - 'Sterling' - '0.998'



A pair of open salt/pepperette combos. Each comprises of the footed container itself, with a hinged handle and body decorated with cherry blossom, each is fitted with a glass bowl for the salt and a shaker for pepper:

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'Rising Sun' - 'Asahi' - 'Sterling' - '950'

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Each box measures 5.3cm x 3.3cm x 2cm excluding the feet. The pepper stands at 3.7cm high. Together, the total weight of silver is 82 grams.


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MAURICE WOLF

Kerkhofstraat, Semarang, and Batavia, Soerabaja, Weltevreden, Medan, and Bandoeng, Java

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Maurice Wolf - Semarang and Soerabaja - 1901

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Maurice Wolf - Semarang, Batavia, Soerabaja, Weltevreden, Medan, and Bandoeng - 1920

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Maurice Wolf - Soerabaja - 1929


J. Keik, representing Maurice Wolf of Batavia, Soerabaia and Medan, is in San Francisco on a buying trip. Mr. Keik will leave shortly for New York to obtain passage for Amsterdam, Holland, to visit his parents.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 11th September 1918


Trade depression is still felt in many parts of Java, and the well-known firm of jewellers, Messrs. Maurice Wolf, have closed their branches at Semarang and Weltevreden.

Source: The Straits Times - 17th November 1924

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K. HATTORI & Co.Ltd.

Seikosha Watch & Clock Works, Ginza Shicome, Tokyo

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K. Hattori & Co.Ltd. - Toyko - 1919

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K. Hattori & Co.Ltd. - Toyko - 1921


K. Hattori, president of the Guild of Clock and Watch Makers, of Tokyo, Japan, who is a delegate to the Export Exposition at Philadelphia, was in Chicago last week.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 1st November 1899

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