The prices of the finished picces range all the way from almost nothing to $100 or more, Sets lof furniture have been known ito sell for many hundreds of ldoliars. Of the pieces seen in was catalogued at $80 Mex. The pair of large vases shown beside the fairy are listed at $70, the small vases at $5. A cigarette box which automatically presents one cigarette at the slot every time the box lid Yifted costs seven dollars. Hexagonal jewel boxes range in price from $7 down to $3. These are all of the best grade lacquer.
Of the very best selected from tne second grade shops a few sample prices are given. A gate-legged tea table in dark green with a decorntion of Chinese cash was $16. Sots of tea-poys ranged from $14 for the nest of four on up to $30 and $40. Vases were priced at from $2 to $15. Jewel boxes can be bought from 'a dollar or so on up to five or six dollars. Chopsticks are furnished in a variety pes and colours at prices running from 200 cash (about 18 to a dollar) or more for a set of ten pair 'A novelty in these is to have the Chinese surname put on each chr in gold lacquering.
It is impossible to get even an approximation of the total output! of these hundreds of workmen in a year. The estimates of yarm manufacturers varied widely, all way from $100,000 to $1,000,000.
Because there is no closely organized. guild of the industry one cannot zet. Jgoneral figures. However, the cxports to other sections of China and to foreign countries indicate the immense proportions of this trade. The Commissioner of Mant Customs gives the following figure: for 1925:—
Hk Th, Hogs 59,782
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.