Hung Chong & Co
C.(1830-1930)
Hung Chong & Co was one of the most prominent Chinese silversmiths and retailers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Active from circa 1830 to 1930, the firm was based at 116 Nanking Road, Shanghai, with further operations in Canton (now Guangzhou). Owned by Fok Ying Chew, Hung Chong combined its own manufactory with a thriving retail business, supplying both the Chinese elite and the growing Western export market.
Overview of a CHINESE SILVER BOX BY HUNG CHONG & CO previously sold from our SILVER COLLECTION at Jacksons Antique
The company became celebrated for its fine silverware, including table services, tea sets, jewellery caskets, boxes, and decorative ornaments. Characterised by repoussé floral motifs, dragon designs, and unusual shapes, Hung Chong’s work stood out for its refinement and immediately recognisable style. While silver was at the heart of production, the retail arm also offered furniture, embroideries, and silks, reflecting the broader luxury trade in late Qing and Republican-era Shanghai.
Hung Chong & Co flourished alongside other celebrated Chinese export silversmiths such as Wang Hing (active 1854-1941) and Woshing (c.1850s-1925), producing many of the most distinctive pieces now found in museums and private collections worldwide. Prestigious institutions, including the Huntington Museum of Art in West Virginia and the Australian National Maritime Museum, preserve examples Hung Chong silver.
Overview of a CHINESE SILVER SNUFF BOX BY HUNG CHONG & CO previously sold from our SILVER COLLECTION at Jacksons Antique
Today, Hung Chong silver is highly sought after by collectors, valued for its distinctive designs and its important place in the history of Chinese export silver.