Items Similar to 19th Century China Trade Pair of Portraits of Sea Captain and Wife
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 18
19th Century China Trade Pair of Portraits of Sea Captain and Wife
$5,200
£3,938.52
€4,523.25
CA$7,286.90
A$7,922.33
CHF 4,200.43
MX$94,968.65
NOK 53,385.29
SEK 48,908.18
DKK 33,805.57
About the Item
19th Century China Trade Pair of Portraits of Sea Captain and Wife, circa 1850s, matched pair of Chinese Export oil on canvas full length portraits of a Sea Captain and his wife, painted on commission in Hong Kong or a related China Trade port. The captain wears a double breasted wool greatcoat over a high collar white shirt with bow tie, black waistcoat and white duck trousers; he holds a white cloth in one hand and rests the other on a table with red Chinese silk drape and his cap. The woman wears a full length black dress with broad hoops and a white collar with what appears to be a cinnabar or lacquered broach; she also holds a white cloth in her crossed hands and leans upon the back of a Victorian lolling chair with Chinese silk damask upholstery.
The fine detail and style of the paintings are characteristic of the China Trade portraits popularly commissioned by captains and officers while they awaited the unloading and lading of cargo. The inclusion of a wife indicates the subject was a ship's captain (the mates were not allowed the company of wives on the voyages). The style of the captain's clothing is that seen in the early to mid 19th Century, modeled after that of the Royal Navy. The wife's attire is clearly of the 1850s (consistent with the chair she is leaning upon).
The paintings are in fine condition, with no discernible damage to the canvas. Examination under a blacklight reveals only a small stabilized chip and minor inpainting of the background alongside the captain, and another larger (but still small) repaired chip with inpainting in the background in lower corner of painting of the wife. There is craquelure to the surface as is almost always seen in Chinese Export pieces (due to how thinly the artists applied their paint), but the paintings remain strong and stable.
The frames are not hand carved Chinese Export frames, they are later than the artwork and appear to be late 19th Century hand carved gesso and gilded. One frame is missing one corner molding, and the other a narrow strip of gilding.
Measures: 16-1/4 in H x 13-1/4 in W
Framed: 20-3/4 in H x 17-3/4 in W x 2-1/4 in Thick.
- Dimensions:Height: 20.75 in (52.71 cm)Width: 17.75 in (45.09 cm)Depth: 2.25 in (5.72 cm)
- Style:Victorian (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:Hong Kong
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1850s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Nantucket, MA
- Reference Number:Seller: AD - 274-90 IRY1stDibs: LU903927354872
About the Seller
5.0
Gold Seller
Premium sellers maintaining a 4.3+ rating and 24-hour response times
1stDibs seller since 2010
280 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: <1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Nantucket, MA
- Return Policy
More From This Seller
View All19th Century Pair of China Trade Portraits of an American Sailor and Wife
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century Pair of China Trade Portraits of an American Sailor and His Wife, circa 1890s, two oil on canvas half length portraits of a young American Navy seaman (identified by his...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings
Materials
Canvas
Early 19th Century Portrait of the Marsh Family Twins, by Arrowsmith, circa 1830
Located in Nantucket, MA
Early 19th Century Portrait of the Marsh Family Twins, by Thomas Arrowsmith (English: 1772 - 1834), circa 1830, an oil on canvas group portrait of the celebrated five children of the Marsh family of Boston. The two pair of twin girls and their younger brother became well known on both sides of the Atlantic in their day, because sets of twins were pretty rare, and these children were so ridiculously cute. Apparently the greatest artists of their day were all clamoring to paint their portraits. The Magazine Antiques ran an article on the children and their popularity about 20 years ago.
The short hair cuts sported by the girls are quite striking, and are actually not as odd and rare as many people assume. While longer hair enhanced with ringlets and other curls were very much the popular fashion, a good number of parents did boldly break away with these daring short bobs. Perhaps they were the "bohemians" of their day. The style grew in popularity, even among adults, following the French Revolution: dubbed "Guillotine Haircuts" they declared sympathy for the deposed royals.
In this particular instance, I believe the short hair was chosen because it focused more attention on the beautiful faces, and lessened the variations in height and hair color to make them all look even more alike.
A delightful painting, slightly Romantic School, a touch Folk Art, in excellent condition and signed on the reverse. Thomas Arrowsmith was a highly regarded artist who worked almost entirely in miniature. Such artists who created such amazingly detailed tiny portraits on ivory...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Empire Paintings
Materials
Canvas
19th Century China Trade Ship Portrait of the American Clipper Ship ORIENTAL
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century China Trade Ship Portrait of the American Clipper Ship ORIENTAL, under full sail on starboard tack leaving Hong Kong Harbor for Bost...
Category
Antique 1850s Hong Kong Chinese Export Paintings
Materials
Canvas
19th Century Italian Painting of Ladies in Waiting
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Italian painting of ladies in waiting, Naples school, second half 19th century, an oil on wooden panel realist portrait of two Neapolitan c...
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Other Paintings
Materials
Wood
19th Century Seascape with Brig Under Full Sail
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century Seascape with Brig Under Full Sail, British School, circa 1870, an oil on canvas seascape with a square-rigged Brig under sail on th...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Paintings
Materials
Canvas
Early 19th Century Portrait of Naval Captain William Compton Bolton
Located in Nantucket, MA
Early 19th Century Portrait of Naval Captain William Compton Bolton (Anglo-American: 1799 - 1849), circa 1830s, an oil on canvas half-length portrait of a sea captain holding a spygl...
Category
Antique 1830s American Federal Paintings
Materials
Canvas
You May Also Like
Pair Antique American Framed Oil on Canvas Portrait Paintings, Circa 1840.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Pair Antique American Framed Oil on Canvas Portrait Paintings, Circa 1840.
Portraits of Catherine Margaret James (1820-1854) & Colonel Robert Emmet Temple
West Point, Army
Albany, NY
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century American Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Wood, Paint
Pair of 19th Century French Portraits
By E. Bourgeois
Located in Winter Park, FL
A pair of 19th century French portraits depicting a bourgeois husband and wife. Signed E. Bourgeois. From the town of Autun in Burgundy. ...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French French Provincial Paintings
Materials
Paint
Set of Antique Portrait Paintings of a Dutch Elite Couple
Located in Sakskøbing, DK
This pair of 1840s portraits depicts a Dutch gentleman and lady of notable status. The gentleman wears a white shirt with high collar, black silk necktie, and a gold brooch, reflecti...
Category
Antique 19th Century Dutch Romantic Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Giltwood, Paint
Pair of American Victorian Male and Female Portraits
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of American Victorian style gilt framed oil painting portraits of lady with necklace and man with white collar
Previously punctured
Category
Antique 19th Century American Victorian Paintings
Materials
Paint
Pair of American Federal Male and Female Oil Painting Portraits
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of gilt framed oil painting portraits of a 19th Century man and lady.
Category
Antique 19th Century American Federal Paintings
Materials
Canvas
Pair of Victorian English Portraits Mounted on Panel
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Pair of beautifully painted oil portraits of a mid-Victorian English couple. Portrayed from the chest up, the lady looks directly at the painter, showing an elaborate hair style wove...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century English High Victorian Paintings
Materials
Hardwood
More Ways To Browse
Chinese Carved Frames
Antique Broach
Sea Captains 19th
Harry Roseland
Henry Barlow Carter
Horse Painting On Silk
Il Guercino
Indian Reverse Glass
Irish Landscape Paintings
Italian Dolomites Painting
Italian Painting Camogli
Ivory Miniature Portrait
James Stark
Jay Fleming
Jessup Furniture
Jesus Reyes Ferreira
Jim Joe
John Austin Taylor