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Mandarin boat: 4173.1

An image of Drawing
View image details Mirador icon - view image Mirador deep zoom IIIF Manifest IIIF Manifest Slow looking

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Alternative views

An image of Drawing
An image of Drawing
Current Location: In storage

Titles

Mandarin boat

Maker(s)

Canton workshop

Entities

Categories

Description

This image depicts a boat for transporting officials. The boat has low bow and high stern, and a mast in the form of an inverted V. This can carry two sails and travel against the wind. On the top of the mast, there is a flag written with "The Imperial Exam", and thus suggests that this boat is carrying an official responsible for overseeing the exam. However, the figure in the cabin is not dressed in official robes but ordinary clothing. At the stern , there is a large red flag, four blue pennants, two lantern on handles, trident and halberds. The parasol at the bow is also part of the processional insignia. At the bow, there is a corridor with join curved roof and hall. In the main hall, through the ornamented window, we can see a figure, who is likely an official.

Measurements and weight

Height: 250 mm
Width: 337 mm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Unknown by Unknown

Dating

19th Century
Circa 1800 - Circa 1850

School or Style

Chinese
Chinese export art
Chinese export watercolour

Materials used in production

Watercolour
Bodycolour
White highlights
Ink

Components of the work

Support composed of pith paper

Techniques used in production

Drawing : Watercolour, bodycolour and ink with heightening in white on pith paper

Identification numbers

Accession number: 4173.1
Primary reference Number: 185651

Audit data

Created: Tuesday 11 October 2011 Updated: Thursday 23 January 2025

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Paintings, Drawings and Prints

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Mandarin boat" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/185651 Accessed: 2025-12-30 11:14:58

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/185651 |title=Mandarin boat |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-30 11:14:58|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/api/v1/objects/object-185651

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<div class="text-center">
    <figure class="figure">
        <img src="https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/imagestore/pdp/pdp82/large_4173_281_29_201106_amt49_dc2.jpg"
        alt="Mandarin boat"
        class="img-fluid" />
        <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Mandarin boat</figcaption>
    </figure>
</div>

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