Small 19th century painting on a box lid depicting the clipper ship Houqua, dated 1844. The bottom of the box is no longer present and the painted lid is mounted in an early 20th century painted wood frame. The corners of box lid are dove-tailed. A rare and fine piece of maritime Americana.

The name of the ship "HOUQUA" and the date 1844 are painted on the lower edge of the box under the painting.

Oil on wood panel - box top. Circa 1844.

Frame: 8 1/2" x 10 3/4"

Painting: 3 3/8" x 5 3/4" x 5/8"

The painting is well executed in a realistic style. The ship is accurately depicted, sailing in rough seas under full sail and with an American flag flying. The brushwork is fine and the paint shows thickness - impasto.

Although the artist is unknown, this may be a Chinese painting as the wood appears to be boxwood, the type often used for Chinese products of the time. It may have been a presentation box, commissioned by one of the crew, in Canton while the ship was in China. The Houqua was built in 1844, initially as a warship for Chinese Government. See below for more information regarding the history of the ship.

PROVENANCE: San Francisco estate.

CONDITION: Overall crazing and darkening. Small losses to the paint, mostly at lower edge. Box lid taped to the frame from the back. Frame appears to be early 20th century. Painting appears to be mid 19th century. Frame with light wear.

NOTES / REFERENCES: Houqua was an early clipper ship with an innovative hull design, built for A.A. Low & Brother in 1844. She sailed in the China trade. The Houqua was named "in honor of the beloved Canton Hong merchant Houqua, who had died the year before, and with whom the Low brothers had traded with in China for many years".

Houqua (also spelled Howqua or Hoqua), was the most prominent Hong merchant of the day. He "was to take her delivery in China as a warship on behalf of the Chinese government. However, upon arrival, she was found to be too small, and so she spent her career in merchant service for A.A. Low.

In 1853, the ferry Tonawanda collided with Houqua in the fog in New York Harbor, necessitating repairs before she could set sail for San Francisco. "Subsequently, off the Horn, on this passage, she had very heavy weather, lying to, off and on, for many days. On May 5th, in a violent squall, a meteor, apparently about the size of a man’s head, broke at the masthead, throwing out the most violent sparks. Coming down the mast it passed to leeward and the two men standing near were sensibly affected and much frightened."

"She sailed from Yokohama, August 15, 1864, for New York, and was thereafter never heard from again. It is assumed she foundered in a tsunami."

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