ROC, Handcrafted Silver Tray

民國 手工雕刻銀托盤

Item number: A290

Year: AD 1924-1933

Material: Silver

Manufactured by: Zee Sung Jewellry & Co., Shanghai

Provenance: Stack’s Bowers 2024

This is a silver tray crafted by the Shanghai silversmith Zee Sung during the early Republic of China period. The plate is adorned with nineteen silver commemorative medals and coins from the late Qing to early Republic era. Zee Sung was active from the early Republic period until around the 1950s, known for creating larger pieces with a blend of artistic flair and meticulous attention to detail.

The centre of the silver tray features bamboo decorations, symbolising nobility and purity, along with the inscription “EvK.” The edges are designed to mimic bamboo segments, and the nineteen commemorative medals and coins are securely embedded in their respective positions around the perimeter. A careful comparison of the coins used reveals the absence of the “Junk Dollar,” the new national currency issued by the Nationalist Government after the Northern Expedition starting in AD 1933, featuring Sun Yat-sen’s portrait. The latest coin included is the Duan Qirui presidency commemorative coin, suggesting that the tray was likely crafted between AD 1924 and AD 1933.

Upon examining the back of the silver tray, there are three circular feet, with a noticeable patina that has developed a distinct mottled slate-grey colouration. Additionally, Shi Xin’s personal hallmark “ZEESUNG” is present, flanked by the Chinese characters “儉” enclosed within a square frame on either side.

The business of Zee Sung is documented in modern Shanghai archives. In the AD 1921 publication of the “Far Eastern Finance and Commerce Yearbook,” Zee Sung is listed as one of the principal advertisers. Further, the “1925 China Commercial Directory” specifically records the company’s address at 105 Szechuan Road, Shanghai, detailing its operations as jewellers, silversmiths, watch repairers, engravers, and dealers in diamonds and pearls. The last known record of Zee Sung appears in the AD 1947 “Shanghai Telephone Directory,” listed under the “Jewelry – Retail” category as “Zee Sung Jewelry & Co., 464 Szechuan C (Szechuan).”

物件編號: A290

年代: 公元 1924-1933 年

材料:

製造地: 時新珠寶行,上海

來源: SBP錢幣拍賣 2024

這是一件民國初年之際,由上海的銀匠時新打造的銀製托盤,鑲有清末至民初的十九枚銀質紀念章和錢幣。時新活躍於民國初年至1950年代左右,其尺寸較常見的規格大,並且兼具藝術感和細節的精緻處理。

銀盤正中央是代表高尚品潔的竹子裝飾及「EvK」落款,邊緣則是模仿竹節,周圍的十九枚紀念章和錢幣牢固地嵌入相應位置。仔細對比使用的錢幣,沒有出現民國22年(公元1933年)起,國民政府北伐後發行之新國幣,有「船洋」綽號之稱的孫中山頭像壹圓。結合發行時間最晚的端祺瑞執政紀念幣,器皿製作時間大致落於公元1924至1933年之間。

檢閱銀盤背面有三個圓形盤足,表面有清晰可見的斑紋石板色包漿。能找到時新的個人標誌「ZEESUNG」,兩側是在方框內的漢字「儉」。

時新的事業能在上海近代文獻找到紀錄,公元1921年出版的《中國遠東金融商業年鑑》,被記錄為該出版刊物的主要廣告商之一。後續的《1925年中國商務名錄》,明確記錄公司地址位於上海市四川路105號,具體列出業務:珠寶商、金銀匠、鐘錶修理、雕工、鑽石珍珠經銷商。時新的最後紀錄來自公元1947年《上海電話分類目錄》,以英文商號「Zee Sung Jewellry & Co. 464 Szechuan C (Szecn) 」列於「珠寶商-零售」條目。

類似/相同物件 請看:

臺灣 國立歷史博物館 National Museum of History

https://collections.culture.tw/nmh_collectionsweb/collection.aspx?GID=M1M8MAMGM7M2

臺灣 國立故宮博物院 National Palace Museum

https://digitalarchive.npm.gov.tw/Antique/Content?uid=46360&Dept=U

更多相關訊息請參考:

https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-18O1H7/china-republic-silver-hand-engraved-serving-tray-inlaid-with-chinese-dollars-nd-ca-1927-32

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