Prints

A rare early view of an interior of a wealthy Chinese merchant's house in Hong Kong. Edward Ashworth would have drawn this picture in 1844 or 45 while he was living in Hong Kong and probably working as an architect. This would be one of the earliest substantial Chinese houses built in Hong Kong. According to Gutzlaff, Chinam, alias Chan Akuen, was a Cantonese capitalist who attempted to establish himself in Hong Kong. The company name was Tun Wo. In June 1843 he bought Marine Lot 54 from Richard Oswald paying $8,000. He proceeded to build a large Hong in the Chinese style but before the building was completed he died in July 1844. This picture was lithographed by Messrs. Day & Son in Londonand published as notes from Chinese Architecture in 1851. The Englishman Edward Ashworth {1814 - 1896} was an architect and surveyor who left London in 1842 on the ship Tuscan. He sailed to Port Philip, Australia and then Auckland, New Zealand. In May 1844 he sailed to Hong Kong on the American Ship, Navigator.He lived inHong Kong in 1844 and 1845. He visited Macau on his way to Hong Kong.