A SILVER BOX, China, early 20th century

Decorated with squirrels climbing on vine branches amidst leaves and grape clusters, in the center bears an inscription: "Les Membres de la Commission Provisoire d'Administration Municipale de la Concession Française de Changhai à Leur President Monsieur J. Meyrier Changhai le 23 Mars 1927"; on the base, it bears three silver hallmarks. Weight 1032 grams.

Catalogue notes:

Consul Jacques Meyrier, born in 1892, was the son of the famous diplomat Gustave Meyrier. The latter served as vice consul in Turkey and later in Armenia, where he drew global attention to the terrible Turkish massacres. Jacques Meyrier began his career as vice consul in Constantinople in 1916. In 1924, he was appointed vice consul in China, in Shanghai, before becoming Consul in Tianjin in 1929. In 1932, French authorities tasked him with replacing the Consul General of Shanghai, Koechlin, due to the latter's alleged collusion with the local underworld leader of the "Green Gang," Du Yuesheng. His task was to clean up the French Concession from the opium trade and replace corrupt French police agents. In 1936, he left Shanghai for Beyruth and then Rabat in 1942, under the French Protectorate, in an attempt to restore the authority of Free France. However, in 1945, he returned to China as the French ambassador, where he frequently met with Chiang Kai Shek and even befriended Zhou En Lai.

20世纪初 松鼠葡萄纹大银盒 款 “炳昌 ZEEWO” 重1032克

1927年法国驻上海工会赠送给法国驻上海总领事的礼物