USS Huron: a Pierhead Painting Story CHINESE PIERHEAD PAINTINGS

[Dirk]

This is a more detailed thread expanding from what I posted on the Forum Facebook page. It revolves around a painting executed on board, I discovered on eBay. The painting was floating around eBay for while with the by-it-now price steadily dropping. At 9”x11” it’s a painting of the US Navy cruiser USS Huron, (formerly the ex-armored cruiser USS South Dakota), that I knew between 1919 and 1926 served as the flagship of the US Asiatic Fleet. The seller thought the painting was possibly executed by a member of the crew, but to me it did not look like it was done by a western hand. There was something in the style, the flatness of the ship’s profile, the way the waves were depicted, the colors used, that said Asian artist. Furthermore, the name while difficult to read in the sellers description, surrendered enough detail, that I thought could see the words “Shanghai” and some Chinese characters and the words “Fong” or “Feng”. If I was right, I suspected this was indeed a painting executed by a native-Chinese Pierhead painter. Artists of the “School of Pierhead Painting” were found in ports worldwide, ready to quickly execute a painting of a ship to commemorate its visit for sale to its crew. These artists normally lacked formal training, but were proficient enough that they could quickly execute a painting before the ship left harbor. The Chinese saw the profitability from from 18th century sailor demands when the China routes reached the orient, to paint vessel portraits much a as European Pierhead painters had been doing in earlier centuries. The tradition continued through WWII. 

[Dirk]

There was a relationship between early Chinese Photography and Chinese Pierhead artists. In fact, these artists and photographers were mostly the same person. The artists had been painting the foreign trade concessions and the ships that served them for over a hundred years when photography reached China. These artists now found a new, and possibly more lucrative trade: portrait photography of visiting sailors as well as formal photos of local beauty spots. As photography evolved it was possible to produce multiple images from a glass plate, as so these artists/photographers started executing a painting of a ship and then photographing it, and then mounting on a CDV and later cabinet cards. Here is example of one these photos of ship (USS Denver) paintings,  as well as as the back of a CDV/cabinet card stating the artist was both an artist and photographer. 

[Dirk]

So back to the USS Huron painting. Having the painting in hand, I confirmed “Shanghai” was present and several Chinese characters. The artists name was still problematic to me, but it appeared to read “ Mak Kow Fung”. While searching eBay several nights later I found a portrait of the USS Isabel, flagship of the Yangtze River Squadron. The seller noted the artists name was “Mok Kow Fung” of Shanghai. With a name, it was off to Worthpoint to find other works, and sure enough they had a painting by Fung of a US four stacker. 

[Dirk]

So what else is out there….here is a painting I saw earlier in the year on eBay, that while in need of restoration, is pretty well done, and has a fine view of Hong Kong seaport life…I did not bid on this one though. I think this painting was done on canvas.

[Dirk]

Lastly, this one came with a large Asiatic fleet grouping I bought a number of years ago. It’s by a Japanese Pierhead artist named H. Shimdzu. Again, a well done painting commissioned to commemorate the ship’s visit to Yokohama in 1937. What is interesting the sailor never framed the photo and it remains in its original packing tube. The two Shimidzu works I have found are done on silk. Again, warships painted by Pierhead painters represents a interesting militaria collecting sub area.

[aerialbridge]

I particularly like the Isabel painting.  Would go nice with my COMYANGPAT group when she was his flag.

[Salvage Sailor]

Aloha Dirk,

 

Thanks for posting these excellent examples of Pierhead paintings.  I particularly like the USS PILLSBURY painting as she's somewhat historic.  She was among the last vessels of the Asiatic 'Lonely Fleet' also known as 'The Fleet the Gods Forgot'.  She went down fighting against incredible odds with the loss of all hands on the night of March 2nd, 1942.

 

 

 

[Dirk]

Thanks guys for your interest in the thread! The Isabel painting is on eBay right now, but priced far, far higher then mine or what the Pillsbury sold for….a big thanks to Jeff for looking that sale price for me! 

[aerialbridge]

Cool thread, Dirk, and nice early 20th Century Chinese- painted US warship collection you have.  As much as I like  it,  IMO at 18" x 12" unframed for $2600, the seller of that 1920s Chinese USS Isabel painting is pretty optimistic.  This is my only warship painting at present.  It cost me about a dollar for every year of the date it was painted, but the bidding was robust.  It's far from a blueprint rendition of the iconic ship, but I like the scene, it fits in my collecting area, and I don't expect to find another one like it.   If I hadn't gone for it, I would have regretted it. 

 

[Dirk]

Now that is a fine painting!!!

[Dirk]

Adding another painting to the thread by a yet unidentified Chinese artist. The Sac was a gunboat that served in Chinese waters between the wars, acting as sort of a station ship. This painting on canvas is now with a restorer for conservation 

[Dirk]

Here are both paintings with some light restoration and cleaning. The restorer found the rolled painting of the Sacramento is on silk and because it’s been rolled so long it want to revert to it’s rolled state. The USS Huron is on board that was varnished. The mould on both paintings has been eliminated and the surfaces cleaned.

[Salvage Sailor]

The Sacramento is very sharp now, quite the difference

[Dirk]

Thanks!! It has some bubbling developing between the silk canvas and the board, but I am pleased with the overall result and your right much brighter!

[Dirk]

Adding a few more images to this older thread on Asian Pierhead paintings.…..the battleship USS Kentucky, in heavy seas, painted on silk and a seagoing Marine of the same era, also executed on silk…..both c. 1900-04.

[stbryson]

Hello,

 

Would this be considered a pierhead painting?  It shows the U.S. gunboat, U.S.S. Mindanao, circa 1939 in Hong Kong, China.  U.S.S. Mindanao was the flagship of the South China Patrol.  The painting is described as oil on canvas.  Dimensions are listed as Frame: 12" x 17.5"; Image: 10.5" x 16".  It is described as signed by "P.T. Pango", but It appears to me to be signed "P.T. Pang".

 

Thank you, and take care,

 

Steve Bryson

 

[Dirk]

Steve yes! And a darned desirable one at that! I know this is your interest area and if you have not already, add it to your collection!

[aerialbridge]

Whatever it's called,  I would have bought that in a heartbeat.   

[stbryson]

Hello Dirk and aerialbridge, 

 

It is definitely in my area of interest.

 

It seems to be an accurate depiction of U.S.S. Mindanao, with a lot of detail.  The auction lists the painter as "P.T. Pango", but I think it is "P.T. Pang".  I think it is a flourish at the end of the name, rather than an "O".

 

Take care,

 

Steve Bryson

[Dirk]

I think you will be pleased with it…..think about how quickly the artist would have to work when these ships pulled into port .

[Salvage Sailor]

7 hours ago, stbryson said:

Hello,

 

Would this be considered a pierhead painting?  It shows the U.S. gunboat, U.S.S. Mindanao, circa 1939 in Hong Kong, China.  U.S.S. Mindanao was the flagship of the South China Patrol.  The painting is described as oil on canvas.  Dimensions are listed as Frame: 12" x 17.5"; Image: 10.5" x 16".  It is described as signed by "P.T. Pango", but It appears to me to be signed "P.T. Pang".

 

Thank you, and take care,

 

Steve Bryson

 

 

Very accurate pierhead painting of the MINDANAO Steve.  We have a few very detailed USMF topics on her sortie from Hong Kong in 1941 and her fate in Manila Bay in 1942.

Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 60512

 

[aerialbridge]

Yes, it's definitely P. T. Pang, with a flourish. 

[stbryson]

2 hours ago, aerialbridge said:

Yes, it's definitely P. T. Pang, with a flourish. 

Hello,

 

Yes, I have seen other references of naval ship paintings by P.T. Pang, including another one of U.S.S. Mindanao.  That one shows a date of 1933.

 

Take care,

 

Steve Bryson

[stbryson]

Hello,

 

Please excuse the poor photos.  I tried to take them with my wife's cell phone, and had trouble with the glare on the glass.  I don't want to try to take the paintings out of the frames, for fear of damaging them. 

 

The painting with the single ship is of U.S.S. Guam.  It seems to me to be a watercolor, and has some damage.  Dimensions are Frame:  12.5" x 7"  Image:  11.75" x 6.25".

 

The other painting, of three ships, shows U.S.S. Guam, HMS Peterel and a French gunboat (possibly Doudart de Lagree).  The depictions of the ships are very detailed.  Interesting (to me) are the depictions of Chinese trackers along the shore.  Dimensions (approximate) are Frame:  18.75" x 11.25"  Image:  16.25" x 8.5".

 

The paintings belonged to a sailor who served aboard U.S.S. Guam circa 1937.

 

Take care,

 

Steve Bryson 

[Dirk]

On 1/15/2026 at 11:25 AM, stbryson said:

Please excuse the poor photos.  I tried to take them with my wife's cell phone, and had trouble with the glare on the glass.  I don't want to try to take the paintings out of the frames, for fear of damaging them. 

I don’t know how I missed this one but those paintings are absolutely fantastic!!!!