REPORTS FROM THE CONSULS OF THE UNITED STATES IN ANSWER TO INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE
At the request of a Massachusetts firm, a Department instruction was sent, under date of January 16, 1902, to the consular officers of the United States, directing them to report in regard to the trade in foreign countries in silverware and plated ware, and especially as to the possible market for articles of American manufacture. Special information was asked as to the consumption of such goods in the respective consular districts; the extent of local manufacture; the importation from foreign countries as well as from the United States; the tariff on silver and plated goods; the obstacles to the extension of American trade in this line, if any existed; the proper methods of packing, etc.
The answers follow:
CHINA
AMOY
CONSUMPTION AND TRADE
The amount of silverware sold here is small. That which is sold is principally of Chinese make and is imported from Canton and Shanghai. Its sale is almost entirely to foreigners, who buy it because it is peculiarly Chinese.
The price for solid Chinese-made silverware is slightly more than double the actual weight of the silver contained.
JOHN H. FESLER, Consul
AMOY, March 6, 1902
CANTON
CONSUMPTION AND TRADE
There is virtually no sale for foreign-made silver and plated ware in Canton. The report of the imperial Chinese customs for 1901 shows that but 150 taels worth of electroplate passed through the customhouse during that year, and that was for the use of European residents in Shameen. If there was a sale for such goods the European firms here would soon take them up, but none of the foreign firms handle silver or plated wares.
In the native shops that deal in foreign goods are found a few steel and iron knives and forks and a very limited number of plated forks and spoons, mostly of English manufacture purchased in Hongkong.
Chopsticks, bowls, and small china spoons, constitute almost the entire table requisites of the masses, while very few of the wealthier class of Chinese go in for European tableware. Native silver vessels, which are made in great variety of shapes and designs, are extensively used.
There is quite a trade in Chinese silverware made for the foreign trade, which is in great demand by tourists and foreign residents. Old Chinese silver is heavy and handsome, but most of the articles turned out for the European trade contain a large percentage of copper, which gives it a tinnish appearance. and the workmanship and finish are greatly inferior to American or European wares. The shapes are taken chiefly from European models, ornamented with flowers, bamboo, or dragon designs. The principal articles are tea sets, toilet articles, bowls, finger bowls, trays, picture frames, cups and mugs, napkin rings, belts and belt buckles, umbrella handles, bracelets, hat pins, scarf pins, and curios.
The chief recommendation for this class of silver is its novelty and cheapness, the cost being from 50 to 100 per cent or more less than the same weight in foreign makes.
There is no electro or silver plate made in Canton. The Chinese do not require it, and it would be a hazardous venture to try to introduce such wares at present.
M. M. LANGHORNE, Vice-Consul
CANTON, February 27, 1902
SHANGHAI
IMPORTS
During 1900 silverware, estimated at the customs at a value of 7,286 taels ($5,464.50), was imported into Shanghai. I have no means of knowing how much of this was Canton silver imported through Hongkong.
Electroplated ware was imported during the same time to the amount of 18,384 taels ($13,788).
OUTLOOK FOR AMERICAN WARE
I do not think that there is much market for American silverware in China. Silverware is manufactured very largely here, mostly by hand, and with the addition of 50 per cent for the work to the value of the bulk silver. The Chinese do not use our shapes of ware. They however manufacture, for foreign consumption only, silverware of our shapes.
JOHN GOODNOW, Consul-General
SHANGHAI, March 11, 1902
HONGKONG
CONSUMPTION AND TRADE
The trade in silver and plated ware at Hongkong is not participated in at the present time by American manufacturers. This is doubtless due principally to the fact that in a British colony goods manufactured in England are more likely to be sold in this market. That German manufacturers sell both silver and plated ware in Hongkong is accounted for by the fact that there are many German merchants established here, both in the wholesale and retail trade, whereas there are practically no American merchants. This trade is not considerable, inasmuch as the Chinese use but little in the way of silver or plated ware and the sales in this market are made for European consumption, almost entirely. The consumers number, therefore, some 4,000 or 5,000 altogether. There is, too, some demand for such wares by the ships which occasionally replenish their stock of tableware in Hongkong.
So far as silverware is concerned there is but little demand for it. The Chinese silversmiths supply nearly all the silver used in the colony. The European jewelry stores keep a small stock of silverware, but their sales are few. One jeweler told me that he always kept a large box of silver suitable for housekeeping purposes in stock, but that be generally had this one box on his hands for seven years before he could dispose of it. This indicates the small demand there is for silverware. Such silver as there is of foreign manufacture in the local stores is of German or English manufacture, while Japanese silverware is also to be obtained.
In plated ware there are many more sales. It is to be found both in the European and Chinese stores and is of English or German make.
There is no tariff, Hongkong being a free port.
OUTLOOK FOR AMERICAN WARE
The only obstacle to acquiring trade is in securing competent agents and the lack of American merchants in the community to push sales. The Chinese are friendly to articles of American manufacture, but they are conservative and would not adopt American goods without an energetic effort to show them that American manufacturers could supply as good quality at prices either lower than or equally low as others. To sell to them it would be necessary to make a thorough canvass among them, and this could not be done except through a good agent carrying a full line of samples. A Chinese ship chandler who supplies American men-of-war told me that he sometimes sold plated ware to American ships, but it was always of English manufacture, as he had never seen any American goods of this kind. He said he would be glad to sell American plated ware, but he had never had the opportunity to buy it. If American plated ware were put on the Hongkong market he said he would endeavor to get Chinese merchants to handle it.
W. A. RUBLEE, Consul-General
HONGKONG, April 11, 1902
Source: Special Consular Reports - Silver and Plated Ware in Foreign Countries - Bureau of Foreign Commerce, Department of State - 1902
Trev.
Chinese Export Silver & Far East Trade Information
Re: Chinese Export Silver & Far East Trade Information
WO SING LUNG
Shanghai
An example of the work and marks of Wo Sing Lung of Shanghai:
WSL
Wo Sing Lung's working period is thought to be 1890-1930.
See: http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic ... 13&t=48752
Trev.
Shanghai
An example of the work and marks of Wo Sing Lung of Shanghai:
WSL
Wo Sing Lung's working period is thought to be 1890-1930.
See: http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic ... 13&t=48752
Trev.
Re: Chinese Export Silver & Far East Trade Information
JAMES HAYWARD
Colombo, Ceylon
Royal Jubilee Exhibition, Manchester - 1887
An excellent collection of moonstones, sapphires, rubies, amethysts, tourmalines, and other valuable stones was exhibited by James Hayward, of Colombo, Ceylon.
Source: The Pictorial Record of the Royal Jubilee Exhibition, Manchester, 1887 - Walter Tomlinson - 1888
Trev.
Colombo, Ceylon
Royal Jubilee Exhibition, Manchester - 1887
An excellent collection of moonstones, sapphires, rubies, amethysts, tourmalines, and other valuable stones was exhibited by James Hayward, of Colombo, Ceylon.
Source: The Pictorial Record of the Royal Jubilee Exhibition, Manchester, 1887 - Walter Tomlinson - 1888
Trev.
Re: Chinese Export Silver & Far East Trade Information
WO SHING - WOSHING
202, Klangse Road, Shanghai and Canton
An example of the work and mark of Wo Shing:
WS
Wo Shing - Shanghai - 1913
Wo Shing - Shanghai - 1913
See: http://www.925-1000.com/ch_Woshing.html
and: http://www.925-1000.com/chinex_04.html#M
Trev.
202, Klangse Road, Shanghai and Canton
An example of the work and mark of Wo Shing:
WS
Wo Shing - Shanghai - 1913
Wo Shing - Shanghai - 1913
See: http://www.925-1000.com/ch_Woshing.html
and: http://www.925-1000.com/chinex_04.html#M
Trev.
Re: Chinese Export Silver & Far East Trade Information
H. SENA
Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore
Established in 1919 by Henry Senanayake, popularly known as Henry Sena, who had emigrated to Bangkok from Sri Lanka. He opened the first two Singapore jewellery shops on Oriental Avenue and within the five-star Mandarin Oriental Hotel under the name H. Sena Jewellery.
On a stopover at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore during the 1930s on his way to Europe, Henry saw the potential for establishing a new store at the hotel’s exclusive shopping arcade. The hotel management agreed, and he asked his brothers to run the business while he remained in Bangkok — starting the company’s family-run tradition that continues to this day. He also opened two stores in Malaysia which were owned and run by Sena family members.
Henry Sena retired in 1962, and the business was continued by his youngest son, Dharma Sena. Dharma managed the H. Sena flagship store until 2011, before passing it on to the third generation of the Sena family.
Examples of the work and marks of H. Sena:
H. SENA - STERLING - .925
SENA - STERLING - .925
The business continues today.
Trev.
Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore
Established in 1919 by Henry Senanayake, popularly known as Henry Sena, who had emigrated to Bangkok from Sri Lanka. He opened the first two Singapore jewellery shops on Oriental Avenue and within the five-star Mandarin Oriental Hotel under the name H. Sena Jewellery.
On a stopover at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore during the 1930s on his way to Europe, Henry saw the potential for establishing a new store at the hotel’s exclusive shopping arcade. The hotel management agreed, and he asked his brothers to run the business while he remained in Bangkok — starting the company’s family-run tradition that continues to this day. He also opened two stores in Malaysia which were owned and run by Sena family members.
Henry Sena retired in 1962, and the business was continued by his youngest son, Dharma Sena. Dharma managed the H. Sena flagship store until 2011, before passing it on to the third generation of the Sena family.
Examples of the work and marks of H. Sena:
H. SENA - STERLING - .925
SENA - STERLING - .925
The business continues today.
Trev.
Re: Chinese Export Silver & Far East Trade Information
BURMESE SILVERWORK
Under the head of gold and silversmith it is stated that 7,272 persons are recorded officially as working at these trades, and engaged as dealers in precious stones, in gold and gold leaf, and as lapidaries. The highest wages are obtained in the large towns, and the best workmen are consequently attracted; every village, however, greater than a hamlet, has its goldsmith and silversmith. The best work is produced in Rangoon, and after this in Moulmein, Shwegyin, Prome, and Thayetmyo. In the filagree ornaments, made by goldsmiths, the burnished gold retains its proper colour, but the other gold is dyed red with tamarind juice, a barbaric custom to which the Burmese cling tenaciously. "The reason given is that no other metal but gold will assume this particularly ruddy colour when treated with tamarind juice; it may, in fact, be regarded as the hall-mark of Burmese jewellery." Various articles of personal adornment, in a great variety of forms, are made, and most of the gold used is said to be obtained by melting down English sovereigns; Chinese gold leaf, coming through Upper Burmah, is employed when purer gold is required. The leaves are about three inches square, and are of three qualities, the best being said to be quite pure. A small quantity of pure gold is also obtained from the Shan States and Bangkok, a very soft variety, having a slightly green colour.
Gold leaf is sent from England in some quantity. To dye an ornament red, it is scrubbed with a wash composed of one part of gunpowder, half part of salt, and one part of alum, to which water is added, and boiled for half an hour. This clears the gold, and prepares it for the dye, which is made of tamarind, sulphur, salt and water, in proportions known only to the master goldsmiths. The ornament is boiled in this for about an hour. The best Burmese goldsmith's work is stated to be equal in design and finish to that of Bond-street.
The silver work of Burmah is much thought of by connoisseurs all over the world, and under the guidance of Europeans it is being improved, while the national characteristics are jealously preserved. The work is hammered, embossed, chased, and carved, and sometimes cut into open tracery, though it is all made in the same way, it can be applied to any shape, and European patterns are often covered with Burmese work, but the native demand is entirely for such simple shaped articles as round bowls without cover or legs, betel boxes, small oval lime boxes, and such like. More intricate shapes are made for use in the palace at Mandalay. The Burmese artist treats silver in the right way, obtaining the greatest possible effect that the nature of the material allows.
Many of the Burmese silversmiths are proficient in the art of Niello work, though but few are fond of it, because it entails working over a hot furnace, and in sulphurous fumes. The design appears as if drawn in silver outline on a black ground. The articles made are cups, lime boxes, plates, knife handles, &c, and are all quite smooth, with a good polish.
Source: The Furniture Gazette - 21st February 1885
Trev.
Under the head of gold and silversmith it is stated that 7,272 persons are recorded officially as working at these trades, and engaged as dealers in precious stones, in gold and gold leaf, and as lapidaries. The highest wages are obtained in the large towns, and the best workmen are consequently attracted; every village, however, greater than a hamlet, has its goldsmith and silversmith. The best work is produced in Rangoon, and after this in Moulmein, Shwegyin, Prome, and Thayetmyo. In the filagree ornaments, made by goldsmiths, the burnished gold retains its proper colour, but the other gold is dyed red with tamarind juice, a barbaric custom to which the Burmese cling tenaciously. "The reason given is that no other metal but gold will assume this particularly ruddy colour when treated with tamarind juice; it may, in fact, be regarded as the hall-mark of Burmese jewellery." Various articles of personal adornment, in a great variety of forms, are made, and most of the gold used is said to be obtained by melting down English sovereigns; Chinese gold leaf, coming through Upper Burmah, is employed when purer gold is required. The leaves are about three inches square, and are of three qualities, the best being said to be quite pure. A small quantity of pure gold is also obtained from the Shan States and Bangkok, a very soft variety, having a slightly green colour.
Gold leaf is sent from England in some quantity. To dye an ornament red, it is scrubbed with a wash composed of one part of gunpowder, half part of salt, and one part of alum, to which water is added, and boiled for half an hour. This clears the gold, and prepares it for the dye, which is made of tamarind, sulphur, salt and water, in proportions known only to the master goldsmiths. The ornament is boiled in this for about an hour. The best Burmese goldsmith's work is stated to be equal in design and finish to that of Bond-street.
The silver work of Burmah is much thought of by connoisseurs all over the world, and under the guidance of Europeans it is being improved, while the national characteristics are jealously preserved. The work is hammered, embossed, chased, and carved, and sometimes cut into open tracery, though it is all made in the same way, it can be applied to any shape, and European patterns are often covered with Burmese work, but the native demand is entirely for such simple shaped articles as round bowls without cover or legs, betel boxes, small oval lime boxes, and such like. More intricate shapes are made for use in the palace at Mandalay. The Burmese artist treats silver in the right way, obtaining the greatest possible effect that the nature of the material allows.
Many of the Burmese silversmiths are proficient in the art of Niello work, though but few are fond of it, because it entails working over a hot furnace, and in sulphurous fumes. The design appears as if drawn in silver outline on a black ground. The articles made are cups, lime boxes, plates, knife handles, &c, and are all quite smooth, with a good polish.
Source: The Furniture Gazette - 21st February 1885
Trev.
Re: Chinese Export Silver & Far East Trade Information
RUFFIO & EILERS - KO LUNG
Rue de France, Tientsin
Ruffio & Eilers - Tientsin - 1907
The business of E. Ruffio and Friedrich Eilers.
Trev.
Rue de France, Tientsin
Ruffio & Eilers - Tientsin - 1907
The business of E. Ruffio and Friedrich Eilers.
Trev.
Re: Chinese Export Silver & Far East Trade Information
WAI KEE
Shop 104, 1/F Prince's Building, 10 Chater Road, Hongkong
Examples of the work and marks of Wai Kee:
Wai Kee - STERLING SILVER - MADE IN HONG KONG
WAI KEE - 90 - SILVER
1960's mark
Established at Hong Kong in 1885 and still in business today.
Trev.
Shop 104, 1/F Prince's Building, 10 Chater Road, Hongkong
Examples of the work and marks of Wai Kee:
Wai Kee - STERLING SILVER - MADE IN HONG KONG
WAI KEE - 90 - SILVER
1960's mark
Established at Hong Kong in 1885 and still in business today.
Trev.
Re: Chinese Export Silver & Far East Trade Information
WE - WF - WC
Canton
An example of the work and mark of the undocumented silversmith using the pseudo mark of the London silversmithing partnership of William Eley, William Fearn & William Chawner:
These items are usually found struck with the pseudo London date letter 'P', but there is a possibility that this letter may refer to the actual maker himself. The working period for this yet to be identified silversmith is thought to be c.1820 to c.1860.
Trev.
Canton
An example of the work and mark of the undocumented silversmith using the pseudo mark of the London silversmithing partnership of William Eley, William Fearn & William Chawner:
These items are usually found struck with the pseudo London date letter 'P', but there is a possibility that this letter may refer to the actual maker himself. The working period for this yet to be identified silversmith is thought to be c.1820 to c.1860.
Trev.
Re: Chinese Export Silver & Far East Trade Information
SUN SHING
New China Street, Canton, and 90, Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong.
Sun Shing - Hong Kong - 1894
An example of the work and mark of Sun Shing:
SS
SS
Thought to have been in business up until the 1890's.
Trev.
New China Street, Canton, and 90, Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong.
Sun Shing - Hong Kong - 1894
An example of the work and mark of Sun Shing:
SS
SS
Thought to have been in business up until the 1890's.
Trev.
Re: Chinese Export Silver & Far East Trade Information
A conversion table for Chinese weights published in 1867:
1867
Trev.
1867
Trev.
Re: Chinese Export Silver & Far East Trade Information
A cigarette box made in Thailand by an unknown maker:
MADE IN/THAILAND - STERLING
Trev.
MADE IN/THAILAND - STERLING
Trev.
Re: Chinese Export Silver & Far East Trade Information
JAPANESE SOUVENIR SPOON
An example of a Japanese souvenir spoon by an unknown maker:
Trev.
An example of a Japanese souvenir spoon by an unknown maker:
Trev.
Re: Chinese Export Silver & Far East Trade Information
FEIWENYUAN - FANG JIU XIA
Shanghai
Member zhaosu wrote:
It's made by Feiwenyuan Yuji in Shanghai, China, earlier 20c. Feiwenyuan (費文元) is the name of the firm (or the brand), Yuji (裕記) is shop name (bench name). Feiwenyuan was one of the nine important gold- & silversmiths' brands in Shanghai before 1949 (later Qing to the Republic of China period).
See: http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic ... 13&t=51203
Trev.
Shanghai
Member zhaosu wrote:
It's made by Feiwenyuan Yuji in Shanghai, China, earlier 20c. Feiwenyuan (費文元) is the name of the firm (or the brand), Yuji (裕記) is shop name (bench name). Feiwenyuan was one of the nine important gold- & silversmiths' brands in Shanghai before 1949 (later Qing to the Republic of China period).
See: http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic ... 13&t=51203
Trev.
Re: Chinese Export Silver & Far East Trade Information
By imperial decree dated June 7, 1884, a trade mark law has been promulgated in Japan, the law going into force on the first of October. Persons who counterfeit registered trade marks and employ them, will be punished by imprisonment with hard labor for a term of not less than thirty days and not more than one year, in addition to a fine. A trade mark in Japan runs for 15 years. Nearly all classes of goods manufactured are included under this new act.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - December 1884
Trev.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - December 1884
Trev.
Re: Chinese Export Silver & Far East Trade Information
WUHUA
Beijing
Member zhaosu wrote:
The retailer or may also the maker was Wuhua in Beijing, c.1910s-30s. Almost all articles sold by Beijing Wuhua were for Western world.
Makers:
北京 (read from right to left) = Beijing
物華 (top to bottom) = Wuhua (name of the shop/firm)
足紋 (top to bottom) = Pure Silver
See: http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic ... 13&t=51492
Trev.
Beijing
Member zhaosu wrote:
The retailer or may also the maker was Wuhua in Beijing, c.1910s-30s. Almost all articles sold by Beijing Wuhua were for Western world.
Makers:
北京 (read from right to left) = Beijing
物華 (top to bottom) = Wuhua (name of the shop/firm)
足紋 (top to bottom) = Pure Silver
See: http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic ... 13&t=51492
Trev.
Re: Chinese Export Silver & Far East Trade Information
HENGLI - HENG-LI - HENG-LEE
Tientsin
An example of the work and mark of Hengli:
Member zhaosu wrote:
Marks:
天津 = Tianji/Tientsin
恒利 = Hengli, name of the firm
足紋 = Zuwen, means 'pure silver'
公 = Gong, an internal mark standing for the actually maker, or the foreman of the workshop, or something else.
Hengli is one of the most important silversmiths and jewelers in 1st half 20th century, Tientsin. Most of their capital, managers and workers were from Zhejiang province.
See: http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic ... 2&p=158520
See also: viewtopic.php?f=38&t=24259&p=97450&hilit=hengli#p97450
Trev.
Tientsin
An example of the work and mark of Hengli:
Member zhaosu wrote:
Marks:
天津 = Tianji/Tientsin
恒利 = Hengli, name of the firm
足紋 = Zuwen, means 'pure silver'
公 = Gong, an internal mark standing for the actually maker, or the foreman of the workshop, or something else.
Hengli is one of the most important silversmiths and jewelers in 1st half 20th century, Tientsin. Most of their capital, managers and workers were from Zhejiang province.
See: http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic ... 2&p=158520
See also: viewtopic.php?f=38&t=24259&p=97450&hilit=hengli#p97450
Trev.
Re: Chinese Export Silver & Far East Trade Information
Clever Imitations by Japanese Jewelers
What is considered an unique light is thrown on the artisanship of Japanese jewelers by the experience of an American woman, the wife of a Navy officer, who recently returned from several months' visit in Tokio. She had in her possession a gold necklace that was a fine example of Venetian chain weaving. It was of intricate design, and in the many years that it had been in her family as a semi-heirloom, nothing anything like it had been seen. A short time after the American arrived in Tokio, the old fashioned clasp gave away. On the advice of a friend, she took it to a well known Japanese jeweler.
The native artisan examined it closely and after a little calculation, told her that it would cost about 65 cents to fix it, and that it would be finished in five days. It was done as promised and the work was excellent. Nothing more was thought of the incident until a month later when at one of the tea gardens, the American woman noticed that a member of an English party was wearing the duplicate of her necklace. Investigation was made at the jeweler’s store on the following day and it was found that he had a dozen copies of the necklace for sale.
Out of curiosity the American purchased one of them at a surprisingly low figure and that evening made a careful comparison of the two. They were identical, even to the extent of the same number of links in one of the small chains. A karat mark had also been carefully copied, although the gold in the duplicate was of a quality far inferior to the original.
Inquiry among American residents of Tokio brought to light the fact that this was no unusual case among artisans of all classes in Japan, though
practiced less in the jewelry trade than in other lines.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 15th November 1905
Trev.
What is considered an unique light is thrown on the artisanship of Japanese jewelers by the experience of an American woman, the wife of a Navy officer, who recently returned from several months' visit in Tokio. She had in her possession a gold necklace that was a fine example of Venetian chain weaving. It was of intricate design, and in the many years that it had been in her family as a semi-heirloom, nothing anything like it had been seen. A short time after the American arrived in Tokio, the old fashioned clasp gave away. On the advice of a friend, she took it to a well known Japanese jeweler.
The native artisan examined it closely and after a little calculation, told her that it would cost about 65 cents to fix it, and that it would be finished in five days. It was done as promised and the work was excellent. Nothing more was thought of the incident until a month later when at one of the tea gardens, the American woman noticed that a member of an English party was wearing the duplicate of her necklace. Investigation was made at the jeweler’s store on the following day and it was found that he had a dozen copies of the necklace for sale.
Out of curiosity the American purchased one of them at a surprisingly low figure and that evening made a careful comparison of the two. They were identical, even to the extent of the same number of links in one of the small chains. A karat mark had also been carefully copied, although the gold in the duplicate was of a quality far inferior to the original.
Inquiry among American residents of Tokio brought to light the fact that this was no unusual case among artisans of all classes in Japan, though
practiced less in the jewelry trade than in other lines.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 15th November 1905
Trev.
Re: Chinese Export Silver & Far East Trade Information
G. IKOMA Ltd.
2-2-12 Hirano-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka
An example of the work and mark of G. Ikoma Ltd.:
Gonkichi Ikoma founded his business in 1870, the firm becoming G. Ikoma Ltd. in 1923.
See: http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic ... 2&p=132230
Trev.
2-2-12 Hirano-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka
An example of the work and mark of G. Ikoma Ltd.:
Gonkichi Ikoma founded his business in 1870, the firm becoming G. Ikoma Ltd. in 1923.
See: http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic ... 2&p=132230
Trev.
Re: Chinese Export Silver & Far East Trade Information
A CHINESE BANK
Canton
A curious place that we looked into on our way across the city of Canton was a Chinese bank, writes a correspondent to the St. Louis Globe, where the counterpart of the brisk young cashiers, tellers and accountants of our home banks were sitting in pigtails, and the long, blue blouses of gentlemen and scholars, shovelling silver Mexicans from basket to basket, and letting them fall on the stone floor with a deafening ring and clatter. A Chinaman can do nothing quietly, and noise is his necessary accompaniment to every action. Every one of the pewtery looking dollars is weighed and stamped by the bank, rung on stone baskets full of fragments, halves and chips of silver dollars that pass as smaller coins. These scraps and bits of silver pass current by their weight and their purity is tested by the ring. The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation issue paper notes of different values that saves one from carrying loads of these clumsy Mexican dollars about with one, but the bank notes are as clumsy in proportion. They are all over six inches long and four inches wide, of a tough, fibrous paper, as thick as blotting paper, and as flabby as so much dirty calico, which they chiefly resemble. Those diplomasized notes of the Bank of England are small and compact by comparison, and every commonsense traveller cries for Mitkiencz and his syndicate to come with the great bank and do away with the ugly Mexican and the clumsy English notes. A great proportion of Chinese talent must be employed in counterfeiting Mexican dollars, to judge from the numbers about and the wariness with which every one accepts one of the coins. A most clever counterfeit passed off on me was one that was plainly pure silver and newly minted. An expert rapped it sharply with his pen-knife, and the top fell off like the lid of a box, and disclosed an interior of pure pewter, filling in the thin shell of silver. At the American schedule of wages 2 dollars of a silversmith's time had been used to plane off in a thin shaving the top of the dollar, dig out the solid part and fill up the cavity with lead, and bring the deceptive 70-cent.dollar down to a silver value of 10 cents or less.
Source: North Melbourne Advertiser - 12th February 1892
Trev.
Canton
A curious place that we looked into on our way across the city of Canton was a Chinese bank, writes a correspondent to the St. Louis Globe, where the counterpart of the brisk young cashiers, tellers and accountants of our home banks were sitting in pigtails, and the long, blue blouses of gentlemen and scholars, shovelling silver Mexicans from basket to basket, and letting them fall on the stone floor with a deafening ring and clatter. A Chinaman can do nothing quietly, and noise is his necessary accompaniment to every action. Every one of the pewtery looking dollars is weighed and stamped by the bank, rung on stone baskets full of fragments, halves and chips of silver dollars that pass as smaller coins. These scraps and bits of silver pass current by their weight and their purity is tested by the ring. The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation issue paper notes of different values that saves one from carrying loads of these clumsy Mexican dollars about with one, but the bank notes are as clumsy in proportion. They are all over six inches long and four inches wide, of a tough, fibrous paper, as thick as blotting paper, and as flabby as so much dirty calico, which they chiefly resemble. Those diplomasized notes of the Bank of England are small and compact by comparison, and every commonsense traveller cries for Mitkiencz and his syndicate to come with the great bank and do away with the ugly Mexican and the clumsy English notes. A great proportion of Chinese talent must be employed in counterfeiting Mexican dollars, to judge from the numbers about and the wariness with which every one accepts one of the coins. A most clever counterfeit passed off on me was one that was plainly pure silver and newly minted. An expert rapped it sharply with his pen-knife, and the top fell off like the lid of a box, and disclosed an interior of pure pewter, filling in the thin shell of silver. At the American schedule of wages 2 dollars of a silversmith's time had been used to plane off in a thin shaving the top of the dollar, dig out the solid part and fill up the cavity with lead, and bring the deceptive 70-cent.dollar down to a silver value of 10 cents or less.
Source: North Melbourne Advertiser - 12th February 1892
Trev.