Is this mark Japanese or Chinese?

[Glint925]

I would very much appreciate your help identifying this mark.

This is part of a 3 piece tea set...
X
X

[davidross]

Hi,

Welcome to the forum.

The sugar bowl is a piece of Chinese export silver. The upper left mark 足銀 is a Chinese silver standard (usually 90% or higher).

Are there no other marks on the tea set, something like Roman letters or initials?

Someone else should come along shortly to provide more information about the other marks.

Regards
DR

[Glint925]

Thanks David,

I have scoured the internet looking for these marks...with not a lot of luck.

So the top left is a silver purity mark?

Any idea from what time period, my guess is that it is late 1800's but not sure.

It does test as silver.

I do see evidence mostly in a few places inside the vessels where others in the past tested it for silver purity.

There is much hand work to the silver, repousse, chasing, stippling and so on.

It would be great if we could figure out who made it and when.

Thank You For All Your Help...

Martin

[Glint925]

Also David,

I forgot to mention that I gave each of the three pieces of this set a thorough look over, and there are no " Roman Letters or Initials."

Thanks Again

[Adrien von Ferscht]

Am actually not totally sure this is Chinese Export Silver
It's not a mark I recognise, but more interestingly, the form and motifs used are not the normal mainland Chinese style
The majority of Chinese export Silver makers that used Chinese characters only for their marks were either based in Tianjin or they are one of the "9 Factories" in Shanghai
It could be Straits, it could even be Tibet
But I've forwarded the marks to a colleague in Shanghai for translation as I'm now curious to know who the maker might be
Keep me posted if someone solves the mystery
Adrien von Ferscht

Admin edit

[Glint925]

Thank You For The Help Adrien,

I have found the part of the mark that David identifies as a silver purity mark on this website.

(admin edit - see Posting Requirements )

... maybe this helps...maybe not...

Martin

[Glint925]

Adrien,

...is it LAO TIAN BAO?

[Glint925]

...sorry bout that admin...won't happen again...

[Adrien von Ferscht]

Yes it is Lao Tian Bao, Tianjin, 1895-1910
Am beginning some research shortly into the Tianjin makers, who all seem to use marks using Chinese characters. The same goes for the makers who collectively are known as "the 9 Factories" in Shanghai, but most of the later were makers of silver jewellery - I believe only two made decorative silver. I have already begun researching them.
Best
Adrien

[dognose]

Hi Martin,

Welcome to the Forum.

Can we see some images of the other pieces?

Regards, Trev.

[Glint925]

Thanks for the help Everyone...

Adrien, do you have information for what each of the marks mean?

In other words, which is the silver mark, company mark or smith mark...?

Also is this set, if broadly described Chinese Export Silver, with a sub description that it was made somewhere in the Tianjin area?

Trev, I'll try and post a photo of the whole set later today.

Thanks Again,

Martin

[Glint925]

Here's the complete set Trev...

Adrien, Is possible to say which mark is which...?

Thanks

X

[dognose]

Thanks Martin for posting the image.

It's a great great looking set.

Trev.

[davidross]

Hi Martin

As expected, Adrien has provided an excellent answer.

To clarify for those who do not read Chinese, your second photo shows three mark (these marks are vertical and should be read from top to bottom).

(1) Top left is the silver purity mark.
(2) Top right is Lao Tian Bao, the retailer's mark.
(3) Bottom right is the master's mark, a common Chinese surname that can be read Lin (in Mandarin), Lam or Lum (in Cantonese), or Lim (in Minnan).

Cheers
DR

[Glint925]

...Thanks David...

[cntext]

Hi Martin

As expected, Adrien has provided an excellent answer.

To clarify for those who do not read Chinese, your second photo shows three mark (these marks are vertical and should be read from top to bottom).

(1) Top left is the silver purity mark.
(2) Top right is Lao Tian Bao, the retailer's mark.
(3) Bottom right is the master's mark, a common Chinese surname that can be read Lin (in Mandarin), Lam or Lum (in Cantonese), or Lim (in Minnan).

Cheers
DR

_______________________________________________
Hi David,

I agree with your observations, except for the "Lao Tian Bao" part.

Top right, there are actually 4 characters, not 3. The first 2 are "combined" together, reading "Tian Jin" from right to left. The remaining two beneath that is "Tian Bao", the manufacturer / retailer's mark.

Take a closer look, and see if you could agree with me on this. :-)

[dognose]

Hi Cntext,

Welcome to the Forum.

Trev.