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, 2nd Type
第二型耆英號白鑞紀念章
Item number: M248
Year: AD 1848
Material: Pewter
Size: 28.5 x 39.0 x 1.5 mm
Weight: 46.25 g
Provenance: Künker 2023
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.A round hole is punched at the top of the medal to attach a loop.
The obverse of the medal features an engraving of the “Keying” junk sailing on the waves, with its stern and port side clearly visible, including the rudder. The sails are furled, and the three masts display a British flag and two Chinese banners. Surrounding the junk are a smaller sailing boat and four canoes, providing a comparison of their sizes. In the recessed area below the waves, the name of the British engraver Thomas Halliday, “HALLIDAY,” is inscribed on the left, and the abbreviation for Birmingham, “BIRM:,” is on the right.
The upper edge is engraved with two lines of varying sizes: “CHINESE JUNK KEYING” and “CAPTAIN KELLETT.” The lower edge features three lines of text: “EXTREME BREADTH 35 FEET,” “BURDEN 750 TONS,” and “DEPTH OF HOLD 16 FEET.”
The reverse side of the medal features fifteen lines of English text detailing the features and voyage details of the Keying, as follows:
“THIS REMARKABLE / VESSEL IS A JUNK OF THE / LARGEST CLASS, AND IS THE / FIRST SHIP CONSTRUCTED BY THE / CHINESE WHICH HAS REACHED EUROPE, / OR EVEN ROUNDED THE CAPE / OF GOOD HOPE. / THIS JUNK WAS PURCHASED / AUGUST 1846, AT CANTON, BY A FEW / ENTERPRISING ENGLISHMEN. / SHE SAILED FROM HONG KONG 6TH / DECEMBER 1846 ROUNDED THE / CAPE 31ST MARCH 1847 ARRIVED / IN ENGLAND 27TH MARCH, / 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.