Pair of China Trade Scenes, U.S. Flag

Attributed to Namcheong (Chinese, active 1840-1870), pair of oval Chinese Export harbor scene paintings depicting trade ships at the Whampoa Anchorage in the Pearl River Delta Region. Includes one painting of ships sailing below the nine story pagoda at Whampoa Reach; the other with coastline and multiple ships including one, in the background, bearing an American flag. Both housed in mid-20th century carved giltwood oval frames. Unsigned. Sight - 16 3/8" H x 12 3/8" W. Framed - 20" H x 16" W. Provenance: Private Middle Tennessee Collection. Note: Namcheong, also spelled Nam Cheong, was a painter who likely had a studio in Whampoa. He was frequently commissioned to create ship and port scenes by Western clients including Thomas Hunt of Salem, Mass. Many of his canvases share the same oval format and compositional interplay of light on water; the 9-tiered pagoda at Whampoa Reach was frequently illustrated in his paintings. (Ref. Carl L. Crossman, "The China Trade," Princeton: The Pyne Press, 1972, p. 67-71). Provenance: Private Southeast Tennessee collection.
Condition Report: Both canvases with overall craquelure, wear to canvas at stretcher lines. Old wax relining to canvas. One frame with losses to the bottom edge. Scattered tiny flakes, grime and inclusions.