All things old China - books, anecdotes, stories, podcasts, factoids & ramblings from the author Paul French

Skvirsky Photo Studio, Nanking Road, Shanghai

Posted: June 24th, 2019 | No Comments »

On some levels Skvirsky’s was just another White Russian emigre-run photo studio in Shanghai. There were quite a few. Leonid “Leo” Skvirsky had a good address on Nanking Road East (Nanjing Dong Lu). Formerly the company had been Sanzetti and Skvirsky.

Skvirsky was a much-in-demand wedding photographer with both the Russian emigre and wealthy Chinese elite. In many albums of China sojourners or army/Navy Skvirsky photos sit alongside the better known names of Afong (based in Yantai, formerly Chefoo), and Joseffa. He was a popular photographer, it seems, with the US Navy – see his picture of the officers and men of “E” Division of the USS Sacramento, that docked in Shanghai in (the rather tense month of) February 1938

However, Skvirsky also did some really interesting photographs, as you can see below….the portrait of a western woman dressed in a Japanese costume is from the 1930s (possibly a performer in a production of the Mikado).

I believe Skvisky eventually left for the USA and settled in Atlanta.

fourth daughter of the Kwok Bews, a prestigious family in charge of the Wing On Department Store in Shanghai in the early 20th century, Daisy Kwok – photographed on her wedding day by Skvirsky.


Leave a Reply