The ship Moravian

A portrait of the wooden sailing vessel ‘Moravian’, shown at anchor in Far Eastern waters. She was built in Aberdeen 1858 by Walter Hood. Many of the vessels built at Hood's yard were destined for George Thompson Junior's Aberdeen White Star Line. He set up the company in 1825 to send sailing ships to the St. Lawrence with a few passengers, returning with timber. By 1837 he was running a fleet of 12 sailing vessels and trading to South America, the Pacific, West Indies and the Mediterranean. From 1842 the vessels sailed mainly to Australia in the emigrant and wool trade. The ‘Moravian’ was subsequently sold to J.E. Ives of Sydney and ended its days as a hulk before being broken up at Sydney in March 1895.

The painting was probably painted by a Chinese artist who has added various local junks in the background.

Object Details

ID: BHC3501
Collection: Fine art
Type: Painting
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Chinese School, 19th century
Vessels: Moravian (1858)
Date made: Mid to late 19th century
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Macpherson Collection
Measurements: Painting: 458 x 604 x 11 mm