Outbound Junk on the Pearl River, Hong Kong, 1914
Attributed to the Ah Hee Studio / Circle of Ah Hee
(Hong Kong School, c.1895–1925)
(Please note: we also have the companion painting “Inbound Junk” available as a separate listing. If you wish to purchase both together, please get in touch.)
Subject & Medium
A superb Hong Kong School gouache showing a three-masted southern Chinese trading junk outward bound from the Pearl River Delta towards the open South China Sea. The vessel drives away to starboard across a lively blue-green swell, her sails drawing as she leaves the low coastline astern under a humid early-morning sky.
Medium: Gouache on paper, dated 1914.
Composition & Technique
The artist focuses on a classic Pearl River Delta junk in the act of departure: broad-beamed, high-sterned and deeply laden for the sea passage ahead. Her distinctive battened lug sails are fully unfurled, each panel carefully modelled to show the tension of wind and canvas as she g
...athers way. The long projecting bow, stepped masts and high poop deck are all typical of the southern coastal trading type, designed to carry substantial cargo while remaining nimble in monsoon-driven waters.
Crew figures attend to sheets and rigging at bow and stern, underlining the ship as an active working vessel rather than a stock stereotype. The choppy blue-green water is animated with swift, opaque strokes of white, convincingly suggesting spray, movement and the energy of an outbound tide.
To the left, a faint, receding coastline marks the sheltered waters of Hong Kong and Canton slipping behind, while the more open, luminous expanse ahead implies the South China Sea and the voyage to come. The subtle gradation of sky – from soft, pearly tones at the horizon to clearer light above – captures the humid clarity of an early summer morning and carries the traditional symbolism of optimism and safe passage.
As with other works associated with the Ah Hee Studio, the technique marries Chinese linear discipline and calligraphic handling of sea and sky with Western-style maritime draughtsmanship, producing a ship portrait that is both accurate and atmospheric.
Signature
Along the lower edge, the work is fully inscribed in English: “A. Hean” at lower left, “Mouth of the Pearl River” at the centre, and “Hong Kong” at lower right. These inscriptions give the work its precise setting and follow the familiar format seen on comparable Hong Kong School ship portraits of the period, firmly tying it to the Pearl River Delta and Hong Kong in 1914.
About the Artist & Attribution
The painting is attributed to the Ah Hee Studio / Circle of Ah Hee, active in Hong Kong from around 1895 to 1925 and recognised as one of the last important successors to the great Canton ateliers of Tingqua and Sunqua. Ah Hee and his associates specialised in finely detailed gouache views of harbours and individual ships, painted for Western merchants, naval officers and travellers who wished to commemorate the vessels and ports of their Far Eastern service.
The present work, signed “A. Hean”, displays all the hallmarks of that atelier: meticulous rigging, a confident and accurate rendering of the junk’s distinctive hull and sail plan, and the characteristic English titling along the lower margin. Dated to 9 July 1914, just weeks before the outbreak of the First World War, it belongs to the final phase of the China Trade painting tradition, when steamships already dominated long-distance routes but traditional junks still carried passengers and cargo throughout the Pearl River Delta.
About the Frame
The painting is preserved in its Hong Kong faux-bamboo gilt-wood frame with an ochre-gold bevelled mount – a classic and highly desirable export presentation. Finished to imitate bamboo, the frame reflects a fashionable style favoured by leading Queen’s Road Central shops between about 1905 and
Delivery shipping information
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD ship worldwide, using fully insured and online tracked delivery services like DHL, DPD, Parcelforce or Fedex also the British Shop. We offer Free national Delivery to England mainland, Wales mainland & Scottish lowland mainland areas only.
We offer Free UK mainland delivery only, international shipping to USA, Canada, Europe. All other countries rest of the world please get in touch for a shipping quote.
Great care and much time are taken over the safe transportation of the Fine Art & Antique pieces which we sell.
We bespoke pack & wrap extremely carefully, so you can rest assured that your piece will arrive with you in great as described condition.
For larger paintings, antique furniture pieces, and fragile items which can not be sent via the normal postal services, we use professional door-to-door delivery providers, who will always strive to deliver your piece promptly, within approximate. 2-5 working days for the United Kingdom mainland & International delivery between 5-14 working days.
Returns Policy
We offer a 14-day money-back refund policy
(excluding the cost of Postage & Packaging costs & any duties, taxes customs charges paid on buyers behalf or buy the buyer direct ).
CONTACT US:
Please feel free to call us.
We have a friendly & professional team on hand who are here to help you with any queries you may have.
Tel: 07494763382
Outside the UK:
Phone or text: 0044 7494763382
PAYMENT:
Our primary payment method is by (BACS) & International bank wire transfer, we can email you an invoice with our banking details upon request. We no longer accept any Online Card or in person card payments due to payment providers charging us and not returning the processing transaction fee even if an order is fraudulent, cancelled or returned. All Item(s) will need to be settled by bank transfer only. We will email you a proforma invoice with our bank details.
Customs Payment & Brexit
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD operates on a Delivery Duty Unpaid (DDU) basis which means that the International buyer is responsible for any import duties, taxes & customs clearance charges and any other customs charges which may be necessary to release an order from international customs.
Following the UK leaving the EU on 1st January 2021 (BREXIT) there have been some changes to customs & duty charges for EU customers. Tax and import duty varies from country to country so we recommend you check with your local tax office to see if any fees will be payable.
If the customer refuses to pay any duty and customs charges and the parcel is returned to sender all shipping charges will be deducted from any refund.
Internal Reference: 754
Antique ID Number (AIDN): SA1180815
Dateline of this antique is 1910
Height is 35.5cm (14.0inches)Width is 42cm (16.5inches)Depth is 2cm (0.8inches)
Your credit card is processed securely by Stripe Inc. 
Thank you.
Your comment has been sent to Sellingantiques.