Digital museum showcasing the collection of worldwide legends over the years! 千古不朽博物館展示多年來收藏的世界傳奇故事!
Keying Pewter Commemorative Medal, 1st Type
第一型耆英號白鑞紀念章
Item number: M239
Year: AD 1848
Material: Pewter
Size: 42.4 x 42.4 mm
Weight: 60.0 g (with box)
Provenance: Künker 2022
This is a pewter 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.
On the obverse of the medal, a silhouette of the “Keying” junk can be seen sailing on the waves, displaying its stern and starboard side. The rudder and decorative phoenix at the stern are clearly visible. The sails are shown unfurled, with the rightmost mast flying a British flag. Below the waves, in a recessed groove, the name of the British engraver, Thomas Halliday, is inscribed on the left (“HALLIDAY”), and the abbreviation for the manufacturing location, Birmingham (“BIRM:”), is on the right. The lower part of the medal is inscribed with “THE CHINESE JUNK ‘KEYING’.”
The reverse side of the medal features sixteen lines of English text, providing detailed specifications and voyage information for the “Keying” junk, as follows:
“ THE FIRST JUNK / THAT EVER ROUNDED / THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, OR / APPEARED IN BRITISH WATERS / HER DIMENSIONS ARE / LENGTH, 160FT, DEPTH OF HOLD, 12FT, / BURDEN, 800 TONS, CHINESE MEASUREMENT / RUDDER, 7 1/2 TONS, MAINSAIL, 9 TONS, / MAINMAST, 85FT LONG FROM DECK / THE SHIP IS BUILT OF TEAK WOOD / SHE SAILED FROM HONG KONG 6TH / DECEMBER 1846, ARRIVED IN / ENGLAND 27TH MARCH 1848 / 477 DAYS FROM CANTON / ‘CAPTAIN KELLETT’ / COMMANDER ”
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.
獎章正面是一艘航行於浪花上,擺出船尾和右舷的「耆英號」剪影,並能清楚看到船尾的舵和展翅鳳凰裝飾。船帆呈現揚帆狀態,最右側的桅桿懸掛一面英國國旗。波浪下緣凹槽處,左側鐫刻英籍雕刻家湯瑪士·哈利戴名字「HALLIDAY」,右側則是製造地:伯明翰的簡寫「BIRM:」。獎章下半部則標示「THE CHINESE JUNK “KEYING”.」(中國戎克船耆英) 。