The amazing thing is that all these items were brought back from China as cargo on these clipper ships for American merchants and importers from 1850-1860 in the lifetime of our maritime shipping fleets all over the world. We have found oil paintings from China, which come under decorative arts of the China trade, that have brought sums of $25,000-$35,000. We also find that China trade paintings of American and British ships while in China ports loading cargo to be brought back to America or England bring large sums of money in the thousands of dollars. The Chinese people and the government are very active in buying back old items that were brought here by our American sea captains. We find that rare Chinese-export porcelain punch bowls of the Hongs at Canton including the American Hong with flag and decorated in famille-rose enamels brought over $50,000 in the year of 2000. On today’s antique market, the real Cantonese platters and Cantonese covered soup tureens bring large sums of money and are highly sought after by collectors and dealers across our nation. These clippers needed ballast with a light load or cargo of tea. When these American clippers were in the port of Canton, they would ballast their ship with barrels of beautiful Canton chinaware. These sea captains were always ready to lend a helping hand to another vessel or captain upon the open ocean. The American sea captains took great pride in setting new records and speed with their vessels. History reveals that there was great rivalry among the American clipper-ship owners, builders, and their sea captains and it was the same way with Great Britain. the American clipper Nightingale from Shanghai to Deal in 110 days the English clipper Challenger from Shanghai to Deal in 113 days. The American clipper ship Witch of the Wave made the voyage from Canton, China in 90 days the American clipper ship Challenge traveled from Canton to Deal, England in 105 days the American clipper ship Surprise from Canton to Deal in 106 days the English clipper Stornoway from Canton to Deal in 109 days the English clipper Chrysolite from Canton to Liverpool in 106 days. While the American Navigation Club challenge was pending, a group of seven vessels, which consisted of four American and three British vessels were recorded as follows: This challenge was sent to the shipbuilders of Great Britain, but they received no interest in their challenge. The race was to be a round trip race from a port of England to China and back, the rules being that each vessel start with a full load of cargo and return with a full load of cargo. Some of the names of these spirited gentlemen were Warren Delano, William H. We find that the American Navigation Club was made up of some high-spirited ship owners and young merchants of Boston. The sad news was that the English clipper Challenger was never directly matched with her American rival in a race between the both of them. The fastest time of the English Challenger was 105 days. Hillick was the commander of the English clipper Challenger and history records that he made eight China voyages as her captain. The English vessel Challenger had a length of 174 feet, a beam of 32 feet, and a depth of 20 feet. This clipper was to be named the Challenger its purpose was to beat the American clipper which was called Challenge, of the port of New York. Then in 1852, a shipbuilder by the name of Richard Green, of London, started construction of a vessel in the clipper class of some 699 tons. We find that these gentlemen discussed many ideas over many mugs of brew and a great Havana cigar. Much discussion went on among the shipbuilders, merchants, and ship owners. The London Daily News ran an article urging Great Britain to make good her claim of maritime supremacy by accepting a challenge between Great Britain and the United States. Each nation was challenging each other in the China tea trade. In the 19th century, the two nations of Great Britain and the United States of America were having their shipyards build vessels with faster speeds. One can read about this clipper in the book “Greyhounds of the Sea.” (Photo courtesy Marjorie and Calvin Dodge) She was 234 feet, five inches long, and had a beam of 44 feet, two inches, and a depth of 22 feet, one inch. She was the largest vessel ever built in the Twin Villages. Cyrus Cotter here in Damariscotta on the end of Water Street in 1853.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |