The American clipper ship Matchless off Hong Kong coast. (Circa 1875)

Chinese Artist ( Circa 1875), The American clipper ship Matchless off Hong Kong Coast. Oil on Canvas, Inscribed ship Matchless Capt. J. H. Dawes Hong Kong, framed. The Matchless of 1198 tons was built in 1870 by Curtis, Smith & Cushman at East Boston, Massachusetts. Captain James H. Dawes was one of the principal owners, and with the exception of one voyage in 1873, the ship was captained throughout her career by him or his son.
Her three initial voyages were to San Francisco. On the first of these she encountered the ship Japan on fire off Cape Horn, and rescued her crew- an event commemorated in reverse - glass painting by Petrus Weyts. Subsequently she was involved in trade to the far East and Australia. In 1883 she drifted on to a reef in the Straits of Sunda and foundered, although her crew reached Anjere safely in the ship's boats. She is seen here flying the United States' flag and a pennant inscribed 'Matchless', with the city of Victoria, Hong Kong, on the right. Provenance: Martyn Gregory, London. Published, Illustrated and Exhibited: Martyn Gregory, Treaty Port Views: Historical Pictures by Chinese and Wester Artist 1750-1950, catalogue 83, London, 2007/2008, p.118, no. 103.