ANTIQUE 19thC CHINESE SOLID SILVER WAR JUNK BOAT, WO LONG, CANTON c.1880
19th Century Chinese model of a war junk, beautifully made and proportioned, with textured cross hatched sails, flying flags, 5 men crew and cannons facing all sides, standing on a hand carved wooden base imitating waves. Such armed junk boats were also pirate junks that plied Chinese rivers such as the Yangtse and Pearl Rivers.
DESCRIPTION
Antique 19th Century Chinese Solid Silver model of a war junk, beautifully made and proportioned, with textured cross hatched sails, flying flags, 5 men crew and cannons facing all sides, standing on a hand carved wooden base imitating waves. Such armed junk boats were also pirate junks that plied Chinese rivers such as the Yangtse and Pearl Rivers. This is exactly the type of boat used in the Opium War by China against the British.
The silver appears to be unmarked but acid tested shows a 900+ standard, Canton, it dates to the 1880-1900. This Chinese war junk model is identical to that of a Cantonese silversmith Wo Long, an almost identical example can be seen in the book by A.Von Ferscht, Chinese Export Silver 1785-1940, 4th edition 2015.
CONDITION
One cannon missing at the front.
SIZE
Height: 28cm
Width: 24 x 15cm
Weight: 390g