Ship model of a Chinese junk (Guangzhou) - paddle boat
Beschreibung
Ship model of a paddle boat with a single wheel placed at the stern, propelled by 6 to 12 persons. The characters on the rear wall of the paddle box mean ‘favourable wind and prosperity’. The invention of the paddle boat is attributed to general Li Gao, who used them as warships. Upstream Guangzhou, where they were known as ‘luenchuan’, they particularly sailed on the route between Longzhou and Nanning. They reached a maximum speed of 3 to 5 km/h. Propulsion was realised by means of a crankshaft, usually actuated by volunteers, thus paying for their passage.
Model built of wide planks and transverse bulkheads. Wide straight middle bottom strake, aft rising. Slanting bottom strake on each side of the keel plank, angularly connecting to the vertical side planks. All strakes on the forebody connecting to a flat, raking swim head superstructure and aft to a vertical, V-shaped, flat transom. Flat sheer. Over the entire length a corbelling gangway. Fore cuddy board with capstan. Cabin running from the starboard to the port side with flat roof, sliding panels and Venetian blinds. On the roof the tabernacle, jeer capstan and rectangular skylight. Behind the cabin, in line with the gangway and behind the transom an extended floating paddle box and a cabin with three spindles with pedals. The middle spindle is connected to the paddle wheel in the paddle box by means of a bar. Awning stanchions onto the pedal cabin. Five wooden figures are to stand on the pedals. Mast with vane and skybroom. Parallelogram-shaped rudder with diamond-shaped perforations, fitted in two rudder cleats. Superstructure with colourful painting, sliding panels with yin-yang. Stern witch Chinese characters.
