Chinese Silver Dragon Martini Shaker and 6 Shot glasses

[ixela]

I recently inherited a martini/cocktail shaker and 6 shot glasses. All of the shot glasses have small dragons that are worked onto them. They are not engraved but rather come out from the surface(I'm unsure of the proper term for this). It was given in 1940 to a relative of my wife, while he was serving in Hong Kong during World War II. I have included the best picture I can of the inscription. I have also take a full figure shot of the shaker, and used the shot glass for the make stamp as the one on the shaker is too hard to photograph effectively, though it says the same thing. I cannot confirm that it is purely silver, though I believe it to be as that is what I was told by the last individual to take care of the piece(His daughter/Wife's Grandmother). The item was gifted by the Canadian Pacific Local Staff. I think the mark on the bottom of the shot glass says "Wai Kee 90 Silver C" but I can't find any information on this.










I set the image width to 900 Pixels but the images are too large I can reduce the size further.

[davidross]

Your martini shaker with repousse dragon is marked 90 for 90% (or higher) pure silver.

The maker is indeed Wai Kee, a prolific jewellery and luxury goods firm founded in Hong Kong in 1885 and still in business today.

The Canadian Pacific in the inscription surely refers to Canadian Pacific Steamships Ocean Services Ltd, which made regular runs from Vancouver BC to Hong Kong from 1887 to 1941. CP would have maintained a Hong Kong office until the colony was surrendered to the Japanese on Christmas day, 1941.

Regards
David R

[ixela]

Thank you very much for the information. I've found that the internet has very little information on mid to early 20th century chinese silver. The steamship office makes a lot of sense, as the original owner was killed in Hong Kong for spying on the Japanese and was a Canadian Citizen.

[davidross]

The Hong Kong Heritage Project has considerable information, readily available on the Internet, regarding the original recipient of the cocktail shaker.

The original owner was manager of the Canadian Pacific Steamship Company in Hong Kong, joined the Hong Kong Volunteer Army in December 1941, and evaded internment after Hong Kong surrendered to the Japanese by claiming Irish citizenship. He was quite active in the Hong Kong resistance against the Japanese, but was tried for espionage and executed in October 1943.

His story is not as well known as it ought to be. By every account he was a true Canadian hero who gave his life helping many people interned by the Japanese in Hong Kong.

If the current owner is not in possession of this biographical information, on request I will send it via a private message.

Thanks to ixela for sharing a remarkable object with historical significance to Hong Kong, Canada, and Allied resistance in WWII.

Cheers
David R