Near antique Chinese export silver cigarette case, estate of Shanghai Police Supt. J.F. Lovell

This beautiful near antique Chinese export silver cigarette case, presented to Supt. Lovell upon his retirement in 1939 by Russian members of the Reserve Unit which he led from 1935 to 1939. Retailer’s mark rubbed, maker’s marks 北 and 施光 legible. Of thick gauge, this case is beautifully worked with a repousse dragon motif. Monogrammed “JFL” to cartouche for Superintendent J.F. Lovell’s initials.

Supt. James Franklin Lovell (1892-1964) served in the Shanghai Municipal Police Force from 1914 to 1939. His remarkable life and career spanned the tumultuous years of post-Republic China and the Warlord Period, experiencing the heady decadence of the roaring 20s in Shanghai as well as the threat of Japanese aggression, Communist sentiment on the rise and the seething underbelly of Shanghai society. In particular from 1935 to 1939, Supt. Lovell was in charge of the Reserve Unit, the world’s first modern SWAT team. 

He oversaw incidents such as numerous strikes in Japanese owned cotton mills in Shanghai (1936), the  Kung Yik Cotton Mill Riot (1937) and several terrorist attacks/assassination attempts by various secret societies, such as that by the Yellow Way Society in 1938. All this on top of the usual state of affairs in 1930s Shanghai- the ongoing civil war, struggles against the deeply entrenched triads, secret societies as well as foreign espionage. All this and more will be explored in-depth in our ongoing Scandalous Silver editorial in the Antiques to Vintage Magazine.

Price marked at $2000 AUD.

Measurements: 146.8 grams. 10.5 by 8.2cm.

Excellent near antique condition, with light wear overall commensurate with age. Marks crisp and clear.