Cumshing operated from New China Street, Canton and was active between 1785-1825. His works are well known, especially to Americans and other examples of his work are published in Crosby Forbes, Chinese Export Silver 1785 to 1885, nos.11-30; Kernan, The Chait Collection of Chinese Export Silver, Catalogue, 9-14; and Kernan, Chinese Export Silver, John Sparks, nos.4-7