A Rare Large China Trade View of Amoy (Xiamen), Qing Dynasty, Mid-19th Century | 清十九世紀中期 廈門遠眺 水粉紙本 鏡框

Xiamen (Amoy) has historically been an important trading port between China and the West, especially due to Fujian's significance as a center for tea production. Well-known for producing Wuyi Yancha (Rock tea from the Wuyi mountains), tealeaves produced in northern Fujian have been known as some of the highest quality teas and production continues to this day. As tea was introduced to Europe in the 16th and 17th century, the demand for tea increased dramatically in Europe. It subsequently became a highly sought-after commodity after Catherine of Braganza (1638-1705) famously introduced tea drinking to the English court after her marriage to King Charles II (1630-1685). As early as 1684 (Kangxi 23rd year), the Qing government established Min Haiguan (Fujian Customs) first in the neighboring city of Zhangzhou, and later in 1689, the British East India Company exported teas directly from Xiamen to England. In 1843, Xiamen became one of the 'Treaty Ports' of English and European trade, and continued to be a major center for trade in China for the remainder of the 19th century.

China trade views of Xiamen are rare, especially compared to other ports such as Hong Kong, Guangdong (Canton), Shanghai and Macau. A related gouache on paper example, is in the collection of the Mystic Seaport Museum, Connecticut, and is illustrated in Carl L. Crossman, The Decorative Arts of the China Trade, Suffolk, 1991, p. 419, fig. 24. An oil on canvas example, is in the collection of the Asian Civilizations Museum, Singapore, acc. no. 2011-01503. An unusual oval example, along with a view of Fuchow, both oil on canvas, formerly in the collection of Caroline Abbot Zimmerman, sold in these rooms, September 16th-17th, 2014, lot 211.