Luen Wo

Luen Wo was a significant retail silversmith based in Shanghai during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In addition to silverware, he dealt in jewellery, diamonds, and fine embroideries. His silverwork was of exceptionally high quality, comparable to that of Wang Hing in Canton, a leading name in Chinese export silver.

Luen Wo’s firm was highly productive and employed numerous designers and artisans, including Ning Zhao Ji. Items from his workshop typically bear his full name or the initials "LW," alongside the maker’s mark of the specific artisan who crafted the piece.

The company specialised in silverware with traditional Chinese decorative motifs, such as bamboo leaves, prunus blossoms, chrysanthemums, and dragons. From the 1880s onwards, Luen Wo is also documented as having produced Peranakan-style silver, catering to the tastes of the Straits Chinese communities in Southeast Asia. His works are particularly noted for their finely chased and repoussé designs, reflecting the skilled craftsmanship and artistic refinement of Shanghai’s silversmithing industry at the time.