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Keying Brass Commemorative Medal
耆英號黃銅紀念章
Item number: M242
Year: AD 1848
Material: Brass
Size: 18.9 x 18.9 mm
Weight: 38.25 g (with box)
Provenance: Stack’s Bowers 2023
This is a brass commemorative medal from AD 1848, celebrating the historic voyage of the Chinese three-masted junk ship “Keying.” The Keying was the first Chinese vessel to sail from Guangdong, crossing the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans, ultimately arriving in New York and London.
The medal was designed by British engraver Thomas Halliday. The obverse features a silhouette of the “Keying” sailing through the waves, displaying its stern and port side. The ship’s bow shows the “ship eye” round bead totem, a symbol from Chinese maritime culture believed to protect sailors and ships. The sails are in a furled state, and the three masts are adorned with a British flag and two Chinese pennants. The lower part of the medal is inscribed with “CHINESE JUNK KEYING.”
The centre of the reverse side of the medal prominently displays three lines detailing the dimensions of the Keying: length 33 feet, displacement 750 tons, and depth 16 feet. Surrounding this central inscription is a circular text stating “SAILED FROM HONG KONG 1846” and “ARRIVED IN ENGLAND 1848.”
The “Keying,” named after the Viceroy of Liangguang, Keying, was a Chinese junk constructed from teak. Originally used for the tea trade between Guangzhou and Southeast Asia. According to the laws of the Qing government at that time, foreigners were not allowed to purchase Chinese ships. But this ship was secretly sold to an Englishman in AD 1846. Commanded by British Captain Charles Alfred Kellett, it was crewed by 30 sailors from Guangdong and 12 English sailors, along with a Chinese individual claiming to be a fourth-rank official named “Hesing.”
In December 6, AD 1846, the “Keying” officially set sail from Hong Kong. It reached the Cape of Good Hope in March AD 1847. Due to contractual disputes with the Guangdong sailors, the decision was made to head to New York first, allowing the sailors to disembark. After staying in New York for several months, “Hesing” and the remaining crew continued their journey to England. On March 28, AD 1848, the “Keying” successfully arrived in London after overcoming a storm, causing a sensation across the country.
Upon its arrival, the “Keying” received visits from Queen Victoria and other members of the royal family. The ship was opened to the public, and visitors were charged an entry fee, with “Hesing,” who claimed to be a Chinese official, becoming a popular attraction. To celebrate the “Keying’s” arrival, various commemorative medals were produced in England, featuring the silhouette of the junk on the front and a description of the vessel on the back.
After the initial excitement waned, the “Keying” was towed to the coast of Cheshire, England, where it was left idle. Around AD 1855, the ship met its end when it was dismantled under the pretext of research. Today, a large-scale model of the “Keying” is preserved in Hong Kong.