|
Date: |
|
Description: | Scale: approximately 1:13. A model of a Chinese snake boat, used as a smuggling vessel in the Canton Delta, Kwangtung. The model is made entirely in wood which has been varnished a dark brown finish. The hull is formed of wide planks, is shallow draughted and double-ended, and has a plank keel. The gunwales do not meet at the bow and stern but terminate so that there is a gap between them. There are six thole pins on either side but the gaps between them are not regular nor are the port and starboard thole pins placed symmetrically. There are three thwarts and provision for at least one mast. There are two uncovered stowage areas at the bow and stern. A fenestrated rudder is set at a 45 degree angle at the top of which is a tiller facing 45 degrees to stern. The model is equipped with four oars and two short wide-bladed paddles, all with handles. The model is mounted on a pair of crutches, each formed from two brass wires whose supports are 'barley twists'. The crutches are attached to a rectangular bevelled wooden baseboard with bun feet. On a paper label attached to the baseboard "5".
TRIM Reference GEN/36197. Snake boats varied in length from seven to fifteen metres, with crews of between five and 25 paddlers. A mat sail would be used when the wind was aft. They were designed to operate in very shallow water at high speeds but disappeared from Hong Kong and Macao when Customs obtained low draught launches.
caption: Snake boat from the Canton Delta - starboard broadside
caption: Snake boat from the Canton Delta - bow three quarter
caption: Snake boat from the Canton Delta - stern quarter
caption: True Vine - starboard broadside
caption: True Vine - starboard quarter stern
caption: True Vine - port three quarter bow
caption: Ethnographic boat model
caption: Record Shot - Do not reproduce. | Publisher: | "http://collections.rmg.co.uk/" | Rights holder: | "Royal Museums Greenwich" | Subjects: | Portsmouth boats Royal Naval Museum models (representations) | Source: | Royal Museums Greenwich | Identifier: | http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections... | Go to resource |
|
|