Rare Chinese Esther Scroll Case, late 19th-early 20th C

Rare Chinese Esther Scroll Case, late 19th-early 20th C

Silver megillah case with repoussé bamboo foliate motif set upon a punch-work textured ground, with twisted stem handle and peony bud finial. The case carries the mark of the Canton & Hong Kong retail firm Wang Hing & Co.

The Chinese retail silversmith Wang Hing & Company was established in Canton in the mid-19th century by the Lo family. The company opened a flagship store in Hong Kong during the later 19th C, which remained in existence until 1942.

The number of known ritual objects used by Jews that were made in China, and bear Chinese hallmarks, is exceedingly small. Very few Esther Scroll cases are known from China – two of the three that were published by Dr. Adrien von Ferscht, expert in Chinese export silver, are similar to the present case in their use of overt use of Chinese decoration (rather than faithfully copying Western silver).

Very likely, this megillah case was either made for a Sephardi or Mizrachi Jewish client, probably from Baghdad or Calcutta, or for a Jewish family actually living or trading in China, of which there were quite a few: the Sassoons, Khadoories, Hardoons, and Dangoors are amongst the most well-known Jewish merchant families who live or traded in Hong Kong or China during this period.

Information on this item courtesy of Dr. Adrien von Ferscht

http://www.chinese-export-silver.co.

Article: "A Very Chinese Purim Spiel, " Adrien von Ferscht.

11 cm. high. 35 gr. Marked.

A rare and exclusive collector’s item.