Chinese Export Silver Dragon Inkstand

This inkwell is a classic example of Chinese Export Silver, highly prized for its exceptional craftsmanship and distinctive design elements, such as the dragon motif.

• Overall Form: It is a single inkwell desk stand built on a square, slightly raised base. The design is heavily figural and executed in high-relief silverwork.
• Material: The metal is silver, confirmed by the decorative style and the visible “90” mark. The “90” likely indicates 90% silver purity, which was a common standard in Chinese export silver, though “Sterling” (925/1000) was also used.
• Decoration (Dragons): The piece is richly decorated with dragons:
  • Inkwell Lid: The lid features a detailed dragon in high relief coiling around the surface, chasing the mythical “flaming pearl.”
  • Side Panels: The square base has dragons in relief running along all four vertical sides.
• The Feet/Pen Rests: The four corners of the base terminate in upturned, figural elements. These are stylized dragon claws, which serve the dual purpose of being the feet and the pen rests for the writing instruments.
• Inkwell: The circular inkwell is permanently fixed to the base. It would originally have held a glass or ceramic liner to contain the ink, though missing on this piece.

Interpretation of Hallmarks

The hallmarks are the most reliable indicators of the inkstand’s origin and date. The marks visible on the underside of the base appear to be:

1. WH (Maker’s Mark):
   • The mark “WH” is the well-known trademark for the prestigious Chinese export silver firm Wang Hing (also known as Wang Hing & Co. or Wang Hing Silversmiths).
   • Wang Hing operated out of Canton, Hong Kong, and Shanghai and was one of the most prolific and high-quality Chinese export silversmiths from the late 19th century into the early 20th century.
2. 90 (Purity Mark):
   • The “90” mark indicates the silver fineness of 900/1000 parts silver (90%), a common standard for Chinese Export Silver.
3. The Unidentified Mark (Chinese Character):
   • The mark inside the circular border is a Chinese character which is typically a chop mark—a shop sign or a secondary mark indicating a city, specific workshop, or sometimes a batch number. This mark is difficult to definitively identify without specialized Chinese reference books, but it is characteristic of the period and firm. The specific character often translates to words like “Pure Silver” or “Quality.”

Age and Place of Manufacture

• Maker: Wang Hing (WH)
• Place of Manufacture: Canton or Hong Kong, China. (These were the main production centers for Wang Hing).
• Age Estimate: Based on the period of Wang Hing’s activity and the style of the dragon motif (which peaked in popularity for export items), the estimated age is: circa 1880 – 1920 (Late Qing Dynasty / Early Republic).

In summary, this is an authenticated piece of Chinese Export Silver by Wang Hing, a premier silversmith of the era, crafted to appeal to Western tastes for exotic and highly decorative desk accessories.