Lot 102

Chinese Qing Dynasty "China Trade" Hongs at Canton, Oil on Canvas

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Chinese Qing Dynasty "China Trade" Hongs at Canton, Oil on Canvas

Estimate: $30,000 - $50,000

Starting Bid: $15,000

(0 Bids)

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by Nye & Company
June 10, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
20 Beach Street
Bloomfield , NJ, US 07003



Chinese Qing Dynasty "China Trade" Hongs at Canton
Oil on Canvas
Apparently unsigned. A large and impressive view of the Hongs in Canton, with the American paddle steam vessel "River Bird" in middle ground, and a second steam-sail to its right. The painting captures in unusually busy scene in front of the western factories, each labeled with their country's flag. The "hongs" or "factories" - which burned down in 1856 - were trading bases of Western merchants working in China. The area was destroyed many times by fire and war, with the last in 1856 during Second Opium War, With British Union Jack, Danish, American and French flags flying, such "China Trade" paintings were typically commissioned by foreign merchants.

The River Bird was the second such ocean going side-wheel steamer to sail from New York to China. Among its owners were J.B. Endicott, and Robert S. Sturgis, a partner in Russell & Co. The River Bird, in speed trials in New York, was able to make 18 knots. This was fast for the time and was probably the result of its modest size, by ocean going standards (174 feet long). The River Bird's speed can be judged by comparison with the speed of the Kin Kiang, also a side-wheeler built in New York for Olyphant & Sons (a New York-China trading family that will be mentioned later) in 1863 for the Yangtze River trade, which was 243 feet long and was considered so fast, at 16 knots, that the War Department issued a challenge to its owners for a race against one of the Navy's fastest steamers. The River Bird left New York on February 5, 1854, reached Macao on May 24 via Cape Verde Islands and the Cape of Good Hope, and was placed into service on the Hong Kong to Canton route.

Attached is a partial backboard labeled "Wham Poa" with a typescript passage from Samuel Eliot Morison's "MARITIME HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS 1783-1860" describing the scene.

Original frame, stretcher, restoration to the tack edge, some inpainting in sky, generally good condition.

Provenance:
By descent from the consignor's great-great grandfather.

  • Dimensions: Sight: 30 3/4 x 57 1/2 in. (78.1 x 146.1 cm.), Frame: 37 1/4 x 63 1/2 in. (94.6 x 161.3 cm.)
  • Medium: Oil on Canvas
  • Condition: Relined. Craquelure throughout. Paint stable. There are traces of two masts in the left 1/3 of painting which appear to have been a change in the painting by the artist of the time of its creation. As there is no evidence of a ship hull below. Retouch in the water to the left of standing figures in rowboat. Scattered retouch in dark water along bottom edge in sky and sail of boat on left edge. Some remnants of darkened varnish in a few spots of the horizon even with the buildings. Possible tear repair in upper right corner and left edge. Scattered losses and bruises to gilded slip on frame. The picture presents nicely and is ready to hang. However, it can probably be improved with some additional conservation.

    Thank you for your interest in our upcoming sale. Please be aware that all property is sold ‘as is' and should be viewed in person or by a professional before the sale to fully assess the condition. This condition report has been prepared as a courtesy by Nye & Company specialists and should not be viewed as a substitute for physical examination by you and/or your professional advisor. Nye & Company specialists are not trained restorers/conservators, and the report is not as detailed as a comprehensive report that would be created by a professional advisor. We will do our best to make reliable observations on the work, which we hope will be helpful to you, we strongly recommend you enlist the help of a professional advisor to prepare a more complete report. While we try to photograph items as accurately as possible, please note that digital photography and images, especially when viewed through computer screens, may present colors that differ slightly from the colors of the object when viewed in person. We also wish to respectfully remind you that the Nye & Company warranties pertaining to the property are limited and set forth in our Conditions of Sale and do not extend to condition.
    PLEASE NOTE THAT AS OF JANUARY 1ST 2023 THE NYE & COMPANY BUYER'S PREMIUM HAS BEEN RAISED FROM 23% TO 25%.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000