Chinese Export Silver & Far East Trade Information

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HIRATA SHIGEMITSU II

Japan

An example of what is thought likely to be the work of Hirata Shigemitsu II





The top mark reads 'jungin' meaning 'pure silver'.

The three lower characters read 'Shigemitsu zo' - 'Shigemitsu made by'.

Hirata Shigemitsu II died in 1970.

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ALBERT & Co.

Weltevreden and Pasar Besar,2, later, Toendjoengan,29, Soerabaja, Java


The premises of Albert & Co. at Pasar Besar


Albert & Co. -Weltevreden and Soerabaja - 1923


Albert & Co. - Soerabaja - 1929


Albert & Co. - Soerabaja - 1929


Albert & Co. - Soerabaja - 1930


Albert & Co. - Soerabaja - 1930


Albert & Co. - Soerabaja - 1931


Albert & Co. - Soerabaja - 1932

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CHOP SAM AIK

Campbell Street, Penang


PENANG GOLDSMITH BURNT OUT
(From Our Own Correspondent)
Penang, February 1.

Damage to the extent of $115,000 was caused by a fire at a goldsmith's premises, Chop Sam Aik, in Campbell Street, last night. The premises were practically destroyed, but the fire brigade successfully protected adjoining property. The loss is partly covered by insurance. A quantity of the stock was saved.

Source: The Straits Times - 3rd February 1913.

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MOHD SALLEH & SONS SILVER CRAFTS

1260B, Jln Sultanah Zainab, 15050 Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia

Examples of the work and marks of Mohd Salleh & Sons Silver Crafts:









Their marks are 1260B (part of their address) and a script mark which is in Jawi, an Arabic script used in Malaysia, the script translates to the word is Kelantan, a state in northern Malaysia which has a tradition of silverwork.

The company are thought to have been established for over a 100 years.

(My thanks to member Damon for identifying and translating the Jawi)

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MUSASHIYA

66, Honchodori, Yokohama



The Musashiya company, operated by Ozeki Yahei 大関弥兵衛 and his son Sadajiro, were perhaps the most successful of the concerns selling high-quality decorative art during the Meiji era. Originally a dealer in pipes, Ozeki Yahei set up the Yokohama branch at 66 Main Street, probably under the management of his son Ozeki Sadajiro, soon after the port was opened in 1859. In 1877, both father and son exhibited commissioned pieces under their separate names in the first Naikoku Kangyo Hakurankai [National Industrial Exposition]. By 1880, the company is recorded as employing twenty-four people and dealing in enamels, bronzes, ivory, crystal, carvings, pins, fans, hardstones, tortoiseshell, lacquer, and a variety of ceramics.

Source: Splendors of Meiji: Treasures of Imperial Japan, Masterpieces from the Khalili Collection - Joe Earle - 1999



Musashiya - Yokohama - 1895


Musashiya - Yokohama - 1910

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G. MAGER

Passer Besar 45, Soerabaja, Java


G. Mager - Soerabaja - 1913


G. Mager - Soerabaja - 1914


G. Mager - Soerabaja - 1914


G. Mager - Soerabaja - 1923


G. Mager - Soerabaja - 1929


G. Mager - Soerabaja - 1929


G. Mager - Soerabaja - 1929


G. Mager - Soerabaja - 1930


G. Mager - Soerabaja - 1930


G. Mager - Soerabaja - 1932


G. Mager - Soerabaja - 1932


G. Mager - Soerabaja - 1936

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KAWAUCHI MUNEAKI

Japan



An example of the work and marks of Kawauchi Muneaki 河内宗明 (1889-1962).

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[davidross]

RE: Kawauchi Muneaki

KAWAUCHI Muneaki （河内宗明，1889-1962), was based in Tokyo. He signed his work with his artist's name, Muneaki, followed by 作（saku, "made" or "made by"), in an ancient form of Chinese characters. 宗明作

Muneaki is equally well remembered as having trained one of Japans National Living Treasures, the master silversmith SEKIYA Shiro
( 関谷四郎,1907-1994).

--David Ross

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V. OLISLAEGER & Co.

Rijswijkstraat, 20, Weltevreden, Java


V. Olislaeger - Weltevreden - 1906


V. Olislaeger - Weltevreden - 1906


V. Olislaeger - Weltevreden - 1914


V. Olislaeger - Weltevreden - 1923


V. Olislaeger - Weltevreden - 1931

Established in 1850.

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SAMMY

Hong Kong





Sammy's working period is believed to be 1890 until 1930.

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[davidross]

Watanabe’s curio shop (渡邊美術店, literally translated, “Watanabe Fine Art Store”) was established in 1879 by WATANABE Chozo 渡邊長蔵　in Sumiyoshi-cho, Yokohama; later it moved to 2 chome Bentendori, and was listed at that address in the 1920 Japan Trading Guidance (i.e., The Japan Trade Guide) published by Tsusho Kyokwai Teikoku.

Marks tentatively attributed to Watanabe, which read vertically beginning top right:

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=32246
viewtopic.php?f=13&t=32245

Situated on a heavily touristed shopping street in Yokohama, Watanabe must have advertised in English-language publications, but no such information has been located yet. Hopefully, another contributor will be able to add more.

--David Ross

[davidross]

RE: HATTORI Kintaro

The image posted above in the 1919 advertisement is of the Seikosha Clock Factory built in Yanagijima, Honjo Ward (present-day Sumida Ward) Tokyo in 1894 and subsequently enlarged. This factory no longer exists.

The Hattori Clock and Jewelry Store, founded in 1881 by HATTORI Kintaro (服部金太郎, 1860-1934), moved to Yonchome Crossing in Ginza, Tokyo in 1893. In 1932, on the same Ginza site, Hattori opened a larger, modern five-storey building with a distinctive clock tower. The iconic building became famous as the Hattori Clock Tower. This Ginza store served as the Tokyo PX for US personnel during the Occupation (1945-1952). The Hattori Clock Tower is a Ginza landmark that still stands today at Yonchome Crossing, but now houses Wako, a department store that broke off of the Hattori / Seiko concern after WWII.

A Hattori mark from a 1920s teapot that reads vertically, Jungin Hattori-sei (“pure silver, Hattori-manufacture”):



Hattori also used a pictoral trademark of a swallow in flight, together with either 純銀 （jungin） or “STERLING SILVER.” This is a sketch of the trademark:



Some pieces, probably made for the export market, were marked only in English: “PURE SILVER / K. HATTORI.”

Hattori Kintaro was a major retailer of fine jewelry and silver before WWII. His greatest legacy is today’s Seiko Corporation.

--David Ross

[dognose]

An image of the Hattori Kintaro swallow mark:



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MITSUKOSHI

1-4-1 Nihonbashi-Muromachi, Chūō, Tokyo

The business was founded in 1673, and opened its first store ten years later, in 1683. It is now an international company with stores around the world.


Mitsukoshi Gofukuten - Toyko - 1908

The mark of the Mitsukoshi department store:

纯银 = Pure Silver - 三越 = Mitsukoshi



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ARNO SCHÖNMANN

Gemblongan 28, Soerabaia, Java


Arno Schönmann - Soerabaia - 1926


Arno Schönmann - Soerabaia - 1926


Arno Schönmann - Soerabaia - 1930

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ZEE SUNG

Shanghai



An example of the work of Zee Sung:









Cocktail shaker, 27 cm in height, and weighing 657 grams.

Zee Sung's working period is thought to have been 1900 until 1940.

See: http://www.925-1000.com/chinex_marks.html

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H.W. MEIJER-HILLERSTRÖM

Heerenstraat, Semarang, Java


H.W. Meijer-Hillerström - Semarang - 1895


H.W. Meijer-Hillerström - Semarang - 1895


H.W. Meijer-Hillerström - Semarang - 1900

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CARL FISCHER

Tsing Tao

CHINESE OUTRAGES - ROBBERS' ATTACKS - GERMAN KILLED

SHANGHAI, Aug. 9.

News comes from Tsingtao that the first murder of a foreigner for 15 years there occurred on Thursday, when two armed robbers entered a Jewellery shop belonging to a German, Carl Fischer, Just as he was closing the shop. They knocked, and he opened the door, expecting customers. The robbers killed him with a meat chopper. A servant heard his cries, and summoned the police, but the robbers fled through a back window, and fired on the police, wounding a Chinese chauffeur. They escaped, and have so far not been arrested.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald - 10th August 1926

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UNNO SHOMIN

Japan

An example of the mark of Unno Shomin 海野勝民 (海野勝珉)



Unno Shomin (b.1844, d.1915) was made an artist to the Imperial Court (Teishitsu Gigei-in) in 1896.

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G.A. RÖRINK

Kramat 6/54, Weltevreden, Java


G.A. Rörink - Weltevreden - 1904


Rörink - Weltevreden - 1905


Rörink - Weltevreden - 1906

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