A Glimpse Of Canton China Foreign Art Trade In 18th & 19th Centuries

May 5, 2023

Last Labour Day, I was lurking in HKMOA looking for some interesting stories to include in my blogs. I was in awe of the ancient antiques from past eras, and the tales behind those things were even more fascinating. I came across Canton Foreign Art Trade Gallery on one of the floors and became interested in exploring it. I entered the space because I was intrigued by the array of green screens that were arranged parallel to one another. The antiques from the 18th and 19th centuries that were on display in this Canton Art Trade Gallery were truly fascinating.

Hive account@dswigle of #MarketFriday might love this art trade center as well.

Canton is now known as Guangzhou, the largest and capital city of Southern China, about 120 km northwest of Hong Kong. Back in the day, Canton served as the center of trading where foreigners also spent their daily pastime as traders.

Upon entering the art gallery, these screens give visitors a virtual glimpse of how trade between merchants and customers happened at the Canton Trade Center. I walked in between those virtual shops and was greeted by merchants. They would then showcase their items and tell some good stories about them to convince the customers. There are shops for teas, foods, snacks, crafts, merchandise, and other local products.

This art exhibition showcases a collection of art trade in the Canton Trade Center set up with a glimpse of real Canton bustling shops. Albeit digitally, you would definitely feel like you are in the real Canton Trade Center in the old centuries.

The first set of antique items on display were lacquers, snuff boxes, and fans.

The items below are snuff boxes where snuffs for nasal congestion were stored. They may look simple, yet the process of making them is complicated. That was based on its description. As you look closer to them, you'll see the intricately made designs - fine and elegant.

I was impressed by the different lacquerware in this gallery with intricate patterns. They truly look antique that has been conserved over hundreds of years. The items below are tea caddies used to save tea leaves. Teas were so expensive back in the day, so caddies were usually locked with keys to secure the valuable teas inside.

This item below is definitely obvious as a cabinet for several uses. Its ornament designs are as intricate as other lacquers on display.

Cooling fans were also part of the Canton Trade. We can usually see them in old traditional movies and as part of fashion items in the West. These antique fans have Chinese landscape designs to fill the imagination of those buyers from Western countries. They actually reminded me of my grandmother's old fans back in the day.

The item below is another tea chest made from wood with tea canisters inside labeled in Chinese and English. This was typically used to display samples of tea leaves to foreign merchants.

Some items on display were imported watches with impressive designs. Looking at their designs, you can tell that they were obviously imported from Western countries. These became some of the major commodities in the Canton Trade.

This item below is named Tortoise Shell which featured Napoleon.

Meanwhile, this artwork is what they called Flower Boat painted in green which is actually a brothel in Canton century. From the description itself, you have a hint of the happenings in the flower boat back in the day.

There are also paintings showing how trades happened between merchants and customers.

This is a painting of the actual view of the embarkment in Canton showing flags of different foreign countries involved in foreign trade.

This painting probably shows the Canton Port.

There are also paintings of different vessels used by foreign and local traders made by a Chinese painter who features a Western style.

Aside from antique items on display, there are interactive booths where visitors can learn the name and usages of items in Canton Trade by placing their hands over the sensor button of each item. The item will then be introduced by a virtual merchant on the screen.

It was truly fun walking back in time, particularly in the Canton Trade era in this art gallery that gave a significant impact on Chinese culture. My favorite part was the imported watches that are definitely worth adding to the collections of watch lovers if they are only for sale.

I hope you enjoyed this virtual tour to the Canton Art Trade and learned something interesting.

Thanks for stopping by.

(All photos are mine)

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