Model ship - CHINESE WAR JUNK BOAT - Chinese Export Silver

ANTIQUE 19thC CHINESE SOLID SILVER WAR JUNK BOAT, WO LONG, CANTON c.1880

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 Yangtze 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.

The complete boat including the stand weights 340 gram, netto .900 silver is 280 gram. Will be wrapped and packed very well!