Stack's Bowers & Ponterio
April 2016 Hong Kong Auction - Sess. A-C 5-6 April 2016
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CHINA. Chihli. Qing Dynasty Gold Merit Medal, ND (after 1870). Li Hung Chang (1870-1901). ALMOST UNCIRCULATED.
38 mm; 45 gms. Gongqing Li Page-108 (This medal). EXTREMELY RARE. Struck in gold, and presented by Li Hung-chang in his capacity as the Imperial Chancellor of Commerce. Considered one of the fathers of modern China, Li Hung-chang was a man of many talents who dominated much of the late 19th century history of China. His ability to balance the competing interests of domestic and foreign powers enabled Li to greatly advance China, both militarily and economically. After considerable engagement suppressing rebellions throughout China, Li became Governor of Chihli in 1870, and went on to greatly modernize the industrial institutions of the country. He is credited with creating the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company in 1872 in order to eject the foreign interests which had taken control of shipping in China. Additionally, in 1877 he founded the Kaiping mines to supply coal for these same ships, and in 1880 opened China's first railway to ship the mined coal. Li is also credited with establishing the first Chinese telegraph lines in 1881 and the first cotton mill in 1882. Simultaneous to domestic achievements, Li also greatly advanced the military capabilities of the late Qing Dynasty, and acted as plenipotentiary on multiple occasions, including negotiations which led to the end of the Sino-Japanese War, as well as representing China at the coronation of Tsar Nicholas II in St. Petersburg in 1896. Additional diplomatic efforts included conferences with Bismarck in Germany, Gladstone in England, followed by consultations in the United States and Canada later in that same year. Though Li's efforts ultimately led to enormous advancement for the nation as a whole, it was not without major disappointments, the last coming in 1901 a month prior to his death when he signed the Boxer Protocol later regarded as one of the "Unequal Treaties". The historical significance of the medal offered here can not be overestimated, with Li's most lasting achievement being the opening of China to western influence, an achievement which can still be seen and felt today. The state of preservation is remarkable, with the gold portion of the medal without defect and fully original, and showing only minimal handling. The upper ribbon exhibits minor fading and is missing what presumably would have been a pinback suspension bar. The lower tassels are fully as made, with gold glistening from the knots and strands, with a few miniscule signs of wear. Housed in a modern protective box of what appears to be Chinese origin. The opportunity offered here to own what can only be described as a significant Chinese historical artifact, is one that should generate considerable efforts to repatriate this medal to the Chinese mainland as it crosses the auction block. ALMOST UNCIRCULATED.
Estimate: $30000.00- $40000.00
38 mm; 45 gms. Gongqing Li Page-108 (This medal). EXTREMELY RARE. Struck in gold, and presented by Li Hung-chang in his capacity as the Imperial Chancellor of Commerce. Considered one of the fathers of modern China, Li Hung-chang was a man of many talents who dominated much of the late 19th century history of China. His ability to balance the competing interests of domestic and foreign powers enabled Li to greatly advance China, both militarily and economically. After considerable engagement suppressing rebellions throughout China, Li became Governor of Chihli in 1870, and went on to greatly modernize the industrial institutions of the country. He is credited with creating the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company in 1872 in order to eject the foreign interests which had taken control of shipping in China. Additionally, in 1877 he founded the Kaiping mines to supply coal for these same ships, and in 1880 opened China's first railway to ship the mined coal. Li is also credited with establishing the first Chinese telegraph lines in 1881 and the first cotton mill in 1882. Simultaneous to domestic achievements, Li also greatly advanced the military capabilities of the late Qing Dynasty, and acted as plenipotentiary on multiple occasions, including negotiations which led to the end of the Sino-Japanese War, as well as representing China at the coronation of Tsar Nicholas II in St. Petersburg in 1896. Additional diplomatic efforts included conferences with Bismarck in Germany, Gladstone in England, followed by consultations in the United States and Canada later in that same year. Though Li's efforts ultimately led to enormous advancement for the nation as a whole, it was not without major disappointments, the last coming in 1901 a month prior to his death when he signed the Boxer Protocol later regarded as one of the "Unequal Treaties". The historical significance of the medal offered here can not be overestimated, with Li's most lasting achievement being the opening of China to western influence, an achievement which can still be seen and felt today. The state of preservation is remarkable, with the gold portion of the medal without defect and fully original, and showing only minimal handling. The upper ribbon exhibits minor fading and is missing what presumably would have been a pinback suspension bar. The lower tassels are fully as made, with gold glistening from the knots and strands, with a few miniscule signs of wear. Housed in a modern protective box of what appears to be Chinese origin. The opportunity offered here to own what can only be described as a significant Chinese historical artifact, is one that should generate considerable efforts to repatriate this medal to the Chinese mainland as it crosses the auction block. ALMOST UNCIRCULATED.
Estimate: $30000.00- $40000.00