Block model of a Chinese junk (Fuzhou?) - 'gouanzouchuan' (customs boat from Pagoda)
Description
According to the 'Catalogue' (1905) (p. 237 no. 599) this should be a guard boat from Shanghai. Because of the fact that a keel is present, D. W. Waters attributes it rather to Fuzhou. The resemblance in shape and decoration to the 'gouanzouchuan,' the customs boat from Pagoda, is also remarkable. The Chinese characters on the signs attached to the two stanchions of the shed mean ‘smugglers will be arrested, no trespassing’.
Excavated block model. Keel boat. Rounded frame. Forebody closed by a V-shaped swim head with bulged sides. Aft closed by a flat, sloping, horseshoe-shaped countersunk transom. Three convex heavy wales running up to and beyond the transom and forming two wings, connected by a fake upper transom. Forebody closed by a superstructure running the full length of the ship. Open shed with transverse saddle roof. Deck house, on either side closed off by sun blinds. Behind the deck house a raised wheelhouse with view over the deck house. The rear end of the wheelhouse reaching up to the fake transom. A hole in the floor for the rudderpost, and on the larboard side a second one, probably a toilet. Trapezoidal rudder. Lead anchor with chain attached to capstan. On two stanchions of the shed a sign with Chinese characters black on white, with red twists, cathead on the front. On the forebody a drum, stretched with painted parchment in green and red plant motif on white background. Flag pole on stern with white flag, painted with blue, four-legged dragon. In the mast a pole with three brushes. Swim head with painted dragonhead in blue, red, green, yellow and white. Panels of wheelhouse with floral patterns on white background, on the stern, Chinese human figures. The fake transom with painted ornamental leaf in red, black and green on yellow background. Underwater hull, black up to the gunwale green, gunwale itself red. Black ornamental leaf in carvings on the side of the deck house. White deck house with brown sun blinds. Upper part of wheelhouse ultramarine. Mast red. Capstan red and blue. Flag pole red.
