Artisans would sketch out possible designs, and Panjwani approves them, sometimes tweaking or adapting them to better suit the Chinese market.

The products come in three finishes: polished, oxidized and coated.

Coated finishes protect the silver but mean the piece can't be used for serving food or drinks.

Oxidization gives the item a dark appearance that adds to its antique look and doesn't require much maintenance. Polished items can be wiped down with cloth or silver polish to get them to shine again.

As silver is a soft metal, there is the danger of inadvertently warping a product by handling it.

Panjwani reassures customers that it is part of silver's appeal. He demonstrates by twisting the spout of a teapot: "It won't break. You should be able to press it back to shape. The value is the same, although you may lose a bit of the labor involved in crafting it."

He also isn't concerned about forgeries.

"Our products are not machine made," he says.

"I feel that the detailed work will appeal to the Chinese market. I hope to bring the craft to the same sphere as crystal or porcelain."