Junks in Southern China, similar to California junk styles. Image: Forrest H. Wells, 1920s, courtesy of Hans Van Tilburg.
Junks in Southern China, similar to California junk styles. Image: Forrest H. Wells, 1920s, courtesy of Hans Van Tilburg.

Asian Ship Models - Wells Collection

Filipe Castro

Asian Ship Models

The Department of Anthropology at Texas A&M University has two exceptional collections of Asian ship models that need to be studied and published.

 

Forrest H. Wells Collection

The Forrest H. Wells Collection (42 models) was purchased in the 1920s and 1930s, brought to America in the 1930s, and offered to Texas A&M in the 2000s.  It is a precious collection of Asian models with a varied provenance, and we are currently trying to match the documents that came with the models, with the pictures and designations.

 

 

Figure 1. Almost one century old, some of these models are probably unique renderings of a world that has since vanished and we want to make the entire collection available on this website, for study and comparison.
Figure 1. Almost one century old, some of these models are probably unique renderings of a world that has since vanished and we want to make the entire collection available on this website, for study and comparison.

 

Hans van Tilburg (2012) NOAA report:

During his several tours of duty in East Asia (1922-1932), Lieutenant Forrest H Wells USN became fascinated with Chinese sailing craft. Subsequently, he took thousands of photographs of Chinese sailing junks, and collected numerous (43) wooden models from shipwrights and other sources. Later in his life he wrote several scholarly articles on the subject and came to be regarded as a prominent US expert in Chinese nautical historical development. Following his death, his rare model collection passed to his daughter, Ms. Kathryn Mears. It has since been boxed, moved, unboxed, and (no longer actively maintained) is beginning to fall into disrepair. Many of the vessels are extremely detailed and accurate representations and contain a wealth of technical and cultural information. Most of these models were intended for shipwrights in lieu of (non-existent) plans for the construction of a wide variety of traditional working Chinese junks. Large working models typically served this historically critical role in many seafaring cultures across the world. Most if not all of these traditional Chinese working craft no longer exist, and few were documented in any systematic fashion. These are glimpses of a vanished past.

 

Figure 2. Hangchow Bay inshore trader, Wells collection (Photo: Hans van Tilburg).
Figure 2. Hangchow Bay inshore trader, Wells collection (Photo: Hans van Tilburg).

 

In 2009 Ms. Mears contacted Dr. Hans Van Tilburg (having read his book/dissertation on Chinese ship design and seafaring history Chinese Junks on the Pacific: Views from a Different Deck 2007) and gave the photo collection and all of FH Wells’ research notes to him for preservation, interpretation, and ultimately the benefit of the scholarly community. Furthermore, Ms. Mears requested assistance in finding a home for the large model collection. The Smithsonian Museum had, years earlier, expressed interest in this collection…provided that Ms. Mears package, insure, and transport the collection to the museum, and provide support for its display and curation (an impractical expectation). Van Tilburg works for NOAA’s Maritime Heritage Program, which promotes efforts to preserve our world maritime heritage, and is supportive of assisting with this unique model collection. The goal of this specific project is to locate a proper long-term institutional home for the significant models among the collection below and assure the reconstruction, maintenance and display of these rare items.

In late September 2012 Van Tilburg traveled to Columbia MO, and with the kind assistance of Ms. Mears completed a preliminary photo survey of the model collection (September 26). No attempt was made to reassemble any of the models; they were photographed “as is”. Many of the disassembled parts and sails still exist and were also recorded (some associated with specific models, some not). These images have now been matched to FH Wells’ own inventory list (“Wells Collections of Oriental Ship Models”), which includes his brief notes on each model, and descriptive code (group letter category, number of masts and length, main decorative features), as well as the latitude and sometimes longitude of the original “home” of the junks, or year of collection.

Lieutenant Wells’ collection of Asian models was donated to Texas A&M University in 2014 and is housed in the Center for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation (CMAC), where the models are undergoing cleaning and conservation care.

 

Figure 3. Lieutenant Forrest Wells with a Yangtse mandarin junk, No. 07 of his collection.
Figure 3. Lieutenant Forrest Wells with a Yangtse mandarin junk, No. 07 of his collection.

 

The collection encompasses 44 models of various provenances, sizes and quality. We hope to be able to study and publish each one of these vessels.

At this time we are inventorying, photographing, and matching each model wit the papers that came with the collection and the careful inventory made by Dr. Hans van Tilburg, including the pictures. 

Below is a table with the model numbers, one or two pictures, and the model designation in Lt. Wells undated inventory. Among the papers that came with the collection of models there are old pictures showing the models in his residences through time. At this stage of our project, we have not identified all the models. We hope to update this table regularly in the incoming months. 

Lieutenant Wells inventory has some codes, which mean the following: The first set of code consists of one or two letters and two numbers, separated by a dash. These letters and numbers have the following meanings: W – Rudders suspended from a windlass;  R – Removable rudders; FA – Fixed rudders abaft the stock; FB – Fixed rudders balanced by a fin forward of the stock; N – No rudder; and NO – No rudder with outrigger. The first number indicates the number of mast. It is followed by a dash and the length in inches. The second set of codes consists of two or three letters between brackets: v – varnished; b – painted black; o – oculus on the bow; g – bulworks painted in geometric areas of solid color; r – painted russet brown; k – presence of pa-kua; c- painted crimson red.

 

 

The Models

01. Unknown. Not in Wells inventory. 12.5 in., 1 mast.

 

Figure 4. Model No. 1.
Figure 4. Model No. 1.

 

02. Fukien War Junk. W3-28 [bpo] Box superstructure to house troops. Shields on rail, small cannon.

Figure 5.1. Model No. 2.
Figure 5.1. Model No. 2.
Figure 5.2. Model No. 2.
Figure 5.2. Model No. 2.

 

 

03. Manila Dugout. NO0-13 [vs] Manila. Outriggers both sides. Matting awning.

Figure 6. Model No. 3.
Figure 6. Model No. 3.

 

04. Yangtze Lake junk. FB3-40 [vs] Probably Poyang Lake. Box bow and other features of Antung junk. Cabin sides vertical.

Figure 7. Model No. 4.
Figure 7. Model No. 4.

 

05. Chefoo small trader 1, or Yentai junk. W3-27.5 [bpo] Model is crude but valuable for showing main features of earliest junks.

Figure 8. Model No. 5.
Figure 8. Model No. 5.

 

06. Yangtze mandarin junk 1. FB2-31 [vs] Based on Nanking. Canon on bow. Windowed cabin. Foredeck awning. Upriver mandarin's yacht bought in Shanghai from Tornroth.

Figure 9. Model No. 6.
Figure 9. Model No. 6.

 

07. Yangtze mandarin junk 2. FB2-29. [vs] Based on Nanking. Canon on bow. Windowed cabin. Foredeck awning. Upriver mandarin's yacht bought in Shanghai from Tornroth.

Figure 10.1. Model No. 7.
Figure 10.1. Model No. 7.
Figure 10.2. Model No. 7.
Figure 10.2. Model No. 7.

 

08. Pechili overseas trader 1. W5-26. [vs] special decoration.

Figure 11.1. Model No. 8.
Figure 11.1. Model No. 8.
Figure 11.2. Model No. 8.
Figure 11.2. Model No. 8.

 

09. Fukien trader 1, or Foochow pole junk. W3-35. [bpo] Oval stern, painted, sea monster, red, on quarters.

Figure 12.1. Model No. 9.
Figure 12.1. Model No. 9.
Figure 12.2. Model No. 9.
Figure 12.2. Model No. 9.

 

10. Chefoo sampan. R1-24. [vs] Partial deck.

Figure 13. Model No. 10.
Figure 13. Model No. 10.

 

11. Yangtze Lake craft. FA1-36.5. [vs] Probably Poyang. Box bow. Cabin shutters slope inward from bottom to top.

Figure 14. Model No. 11.
Figure 14. Model No. 11.

 

12. Grist mill junk. FB0-19.5. [vs] Paddle wheels turned by currect. Hull resembles Tselingin models.

Figure 15. Model No. 12.
Figure 15. Model No. 12.

 

13. Tselingin salt junk 1. FB1-18. [vs] Structure suggests Yangtse rapids derivation. Cabin single. No anchor, uses spud. Flat top sail with boom projecting well past leech.

Figure 16. Model No. 13.
Figure 16. Model No. 13.

 

14. Yangtse rapids junk 1. FB3-16. [vsy] Hull as in B3-54, but yin and yang on beam ends.

Figure 17. Model No. 14.
Figure 17. Model No. 14.

 

15. Kiangsi River junk. FB1-36. [vs] Probably Kanchowfu (Lat 26; Long 115). Marked Kweichow when bought. Siamese Stem as in Landstrom Fig. 531. Wood cabin, rounded sides. Very high but narrow stern.

Figure 18. Model No. 15.
Figure 18. Model No. 15.

 

16. Flower boat. R0-19.5. Destroyed. Bought in poor condition. Not in A&M collection.

Figure 19. Model No. 16.
Figure 19. Model No. 16.

 

17. Tourist Export Model. Not in Wells inventory.

Figure 20.1. Model No. 17.
Figure 20.1. Model No. 17.
Figure 20.2. Model No. 17.
Figure 20.2. Model No. 17.

 

18. Fukien trader 2. W3-25. [bpo] Has both a capstan and a windlass with ratchet, both foreign. Similar to W3-35. Not in the A&M collection.

Figure 21.1. Model No. 18.
Figure 21.1. Model No. 18.
Figure 21.2. Model No. 18.
Figure 21.2. Model No. 18.

 

19. Tsingtao inshore fisher. W2-19. [vso] Plate bow without Chekiang overlapped stem.

Figure 22. Model No. 19.
Figure 22. Model No. 19.

 

20. Moro Vinta. NO1-7. [vs] Outrigger on each side. Striped awning.

Figure 23. Model No. 20.
Figure 23. Model No. 20.

 

21. Manila cargo lighter, or casco. R2-33. [bg] Hull and pole walk similar to Landstrom fig. 550. No battens on sails. Red bellow waterline.

Figure 24.1. Model No. 21.
Figure 24.1. Model No. 21.
Figure 24.2. Model No. 21.
Figure 24.2. Model No. 21.

 

22. Yangtse rapids junk 2. R2-33. [vs] Same hull as B3-54. Crossbeams have plain red ends.

Figure 25. Model No. 22.
Figure 25. Model No. 22.

 

23. Tselingin salt junk 2. N1-17.5. [vs] Hull and sail as in FB1-18.

Figure 26. Model No. 23.
Figure 26. Model No. 23.

 

24. Phillipine outrigger 1. R1-17.5. [vs] Dugout, outrigger on both sides, no battens in sails. Bought in Olongapo. Subig Bay.

Figure 27. Model No. 24.
Figure 27. Model No. 24.

 

24a. Phillipine outrigger 2. R1-17.5. [vs] Dugout, outrigger on both sides, no battens in sails. Bought in Olongapo. Subig Bay.

Figure 28. Model No. 24a.
Figure 28. Model No. 24a.

 

25. Chefoo small trader 2, or Yentai junk. W3-22. [vs] Characters on transom. Made by Wells' order.

Figure 29. Model No. 25.
Figure 29. Model No. 25.

 

26. Island dugout

Figure 30. Model No. 26.
Figure 30. Model No. 26.

 

27. Fukien trader 3

Figure 31. Model No. 27.
Figure 31. Model No. 27.

 

28. Fukien trader 4

Figure 32. Model No. 28.
Figure 32. Model No. 28.

 

29. High prow sampan 1

Figure 33. Model No. 29.
Figure 33. Model No. 29.

 

30. High prow sampan 2

Figure 34. Model No. 30.
Figure 34. Model No. 30.

 

31. Coal junk

Figure 35. Model No. 31.
Figure 35. Model No. 31.

 

32. One-man dugout

Figure 36. Model No. 32.
Figure 36. Model No. 32.

 

33. Chusan Island small trader

Figure 37.1. Model No. 33.
Figure 37.1. Model No. 33.
Figure 37.2. Model No. 33.
Figure 37.2. Model No. 33.

 

34. Malay racing kolek

Figure 38. Model No. 34.
Figure 38. Model No. 34.

 

35. Fukien trader 5. W3-29. [bpo] Similar to W3-35.

Figure 39.1. Model No. 35.
Figure 39.1. Model No. 35.
Figure 39.2. Model No. 35.
Figure 39.2. Model No. 35.

 

36. Yangtse rapids junk 4. FB3-26. [vsk] Very shallow whale-back hull, no bulwarks forward of cabin. High rocker stern with two hors on transom to carry sheets. Pa-kua on beam ends.

Figure 40. Model No. 36.
Figure 40. Model No. 36.

 

37. Pechili overseas trader 2. W5-26. Peggy's duplicate of W08.

Figure 41. Model No. 37.
Figure 41. Model No. 37.

 

38. Hangshow Bay inshore trader, also called Shaosing junk

Figure 42.1. Model No. 38.
Figure 42.1. Model No. 38.
Figure 42.2. Model No. 38.
Figure 42.2. Model No. 38.

 

39. Chinchow trader, also called red-head junk

Figure 43. Model No. 39.
Figure 43. Model No. 39.

 

40. Lorcha. FA3-25. [cg] Originated by the Portuguese of Macao. Upper works white.

Figure 44.1. Model No. 40.
Figure 44.1. Model No. 40.
Figure 44.2. Model No. 40.
Figure 44.2. Model No. 40.

 

41. Grand canal passenger junk. F1-45. [vs] canal runs between Peking and Hangchow. Passenger cabins sunk in weather deck. Overhead forms floor of second class. Roofed but otherwise open-air.

Figure 45.1. Model No. 41.
Figure 45.1. Model No. 41.
Figure 45.2. Model No. 41.
Figure 45.2. Model No. 41.

 

42. South China trader, also called Kwantung overseas trader. W3-34. [vs] Hongkong. Mizzen mast missing, stem is foreign.

Figure 46.1. Model No. 42.
Figure 46.1. Model No. 42.
Figure 46.2. Model No. 42.
Figure 46.2. Model No. 42.

 

43. Yangtse rapids junk 4. FB3-54. [vsk] Very shallow whale-back hull, no bulwarks forward of cabin. High rocker stern with two hors on transom to carry sheets. Pa-kua on beam ends.

Figure 47.1. Model No. 43.
Figure 47.1. Model No. 43.
Figure 47.2. Model No. 43.
Figure 47.2. Model No. 43.

 

44. Thatched sampan. N1-2.5. [vs] Japanese. Not in the A&M collection.

 

45. Bamboo sampan. N1-3.5. [vs] Japanese. Not in the A&M collection.

 

46. Bird shape sampan. N1-4. [vs] Japanese. Not in the A&M collection.

 

47. Carved model. R0-1.75. [bg] Canton.

Figure 48. Model No. 47.
Figure 48. Model No. 47.

 

48. Manila Bay purse seiner, or banca. R2-30. [cx] Dugout-type hull. 28 paddles, hull sides very light blue. Underwater body red. Made at Cavite navy yard by Wells' order.

Figure 49. Model No. 48.
Figure 49. Model No. 48.

 

49. Not in the A&M collection.

 

50. Not in the A&M collection.

Figure 50. Model No. 50.
Figure 50. Model No. 50.

 

51. Possibly the Footchow pole junk (W09) boat.

Figure 51. Model No. 51.
Figure 51. Model No. 51.

 

 

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