More Than 100 Years Ago, "Made-in-Ningbo" Ventures into World Expos

1876年费城世博会中国展区入口。

The entrance of the Chinese exhibition area at the 1876 Philadelphia World Expo. 

本周，第四届中国—中东欧国家博览会暨国际消费品博览会在宁波隆重举办。作为我国唯一面向中东欧的国家级机制性展会，在这个主场“舞台”上，来自20多个国家的400家参展商带来了8000多件特色商品，搭建起中外经贸与文化交流的桥梁。

This week，the 4th China-Central and Eastern European Countries Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair is underway in Ningbo. As the country’s only national-level institutional expo dedicated to China-CEEC cooperation, it attracts over 400 exhibitors from more than 20 countries to bring more than 8000 CEE specialty products, bridging economic and cultural exchanges.

而早在150多年前，中国就开始参加世界各地的博览会。1873年维也纳世博会，清政府首次以官方名义派员参加，具体操办工作由中国海关总税务司英国人赫德，委派粤海关税务司包腊执行。

China’s participation in global expos dates back over 150 years to the 1873 Vienna World Expo. The effort was organized by the Robert Hart—a top officer in China's customs in the Qing Dynasty, who appointed Edward Charles Macintosh Bowra to oversee preparations.

维也纳世博会上的中国瓷器、灯笼和雕花木床。

Chinese porcelain, lanterns and carved wooden beds at the Vienna World Expo.

赫德与包腊，都是宁波人的“老朋友”。出于熟悉度、便捷度各方面原因，早期世博会常见宁波身影。宁波产的家具、木雕、相框频频获得世博会奖章，宁波“输出”的木匠乃是搭建“中国馆”“中国景”的主力。

Their ties to Ningbo—and its reputation for craftsmanship and trade—helped bring the city into the spotlight during the earliest Expositions. Ningbo-made furniture, woodcarvings, and picture frames consistently won international acclaim. Local master carpenters, in particular, became indispensable when it comes to the construction of overseas Chinese pavilions.

本期内容，让我们从认识一个叫“孙信耕”的宁波木匠开始。

Let us begin by meeting Sung Sing Kung, a master carpenter from Ningbo whose skills shined on the global stage.

神秘的“孙信耕”

The Enigma of “Sung Sing Kung”

创建于1799年的波士顿迪美博物馆，是美国历史最悠久的博物馆，拥有世界上最大、最全面的中国外销艺术品收藏。

Founded in 1799, the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) in Boston is the oldest continuously operating museum in the United States. Today, it houses the world’s most comprehensive collection of Chinese export art. 

“月床”。

The Moon Bed.

该博物馆收藏着一张造型别致的“月床”，网站注明其为中国“Sung Sing Kung”（Kung一作Cung）的作品，曾在1876年美国费城世博会上展出，1977年由私人藏家捐赠博物馆。

Among its treasures is an elegant and intricately carved moon bed, credited to a mysterious Chinese craftsman “Sung Sing Kung.” The remarkable piece was displayed at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia before being donated to the museum in 1977 by a private collector.

1876年费城世博会中国展区入口木质牌楼上有李圭与孙信耕的署名。

The signatures of Li Gui and Sun Xingeng can be found on the wooden archway at the entrance of the Chinese exhibition area at the 1876 Philadelphia World Expo. 

“Sung Sing Kung”姓名的答案，来自一张1876年费城世博会中国展区入口的照片。大门的左柱上刻有中文“金陵李圭拟联，宁波孙信耕承办”字样。答案就这样解开了，“Sung Sing Kung”是“孙信耕”的罗马拼音写法。

The mystery of the maker’s identity was solved by a single historical photograph. In an image showing the Chinese pavilion entrance at the 1876 fair, the left pillar of the gate bears the Chinese inscription: “Couplet by Li Gui of Jinling; Organized by Sung Sing Kung of Ningbo.” “Sung Sing Kung,” it turns out, was the Romanized version of Sun Xingeng’s name.

惊艳世博会的宁波木匠

A Master Craftsman from Ningbo

2022年，宁波收藏家华先生从英国拍卖行寻访到一件孙信耕的作品，拍卖行简单介绍为“中国手工雕刻木相框”。

In 2022, Ningbo collector named Mr. Hua acquired another of Sun’s works at a British auction house—a Chinese-crafted, European-style picture frame.

1862年孙信耕制作相框正面。

The front side of the photo frame made by Sun Xingeng in 1862. 

这是一件用中国工艺制作的欧式相框，楠木材质，宽、高均为35厘米，两侧柱子上各雕一条中国龙，上沿口3个圆盘雕刻的场景，分别为“农耕图”“进城图”和“待渡图”。

Measuring 35 centimeters in both width and height and made of nanmu wood, the frame features twin dragons carved into its columns and three relief panels across the top depicting scenes of people farming, entering the city, and waiting at the ferry.

背后证明其身份的贴纸。

The sticker on the back that proves his identity.

标识显示，这件相框曾获1862年英国伦敦世博会奖章，它的出现无疑提前了宁波产品亮相世博会的记录。

Remarkably, the frame had won the International Exhibitor Prize Medal  at the 1862 London International Exhibition—making it the earliest known Ningbo exhibit at a World Expo.

宁波大学从事近代中外关系史研究的学者田力还记录了其他早期的宁波贡献：灌溉农具模型、宁波女子模型（展示独特的缠足方法），以及一系列的宁波船模，如脚踏渔船模型、竹制渔筏模型、宁波北船模型、改进的中式平底帆船模型、舢板船模型等都曾亮相维也纳世博会。包腊也奉献出自己收藏的5件家具，分别是宁式雕花床架、衣柜、茶几、雕花书柜和橱柜，全部来自宁波。

Professor Tian Li of Ningbo University, an expert on modern Sino-foreign relations, has documented other early Ningbo contributions. At the 1873 Vienna Expo, Ningbo presented local irrigation tools, and a fleet of boat miniatures—pedal-powered fishing vessels, bamboo rafts, and flat-bottomed sailboats among them. Bowra, the customs official, further enriched the exhibition by contributing five pieces from his personal collection of Ningbo furniture.

孙信耕的参展品包括总价值超过235英镑的木雕家具，有十来件，大到价值100英镑的木雕床架，中到价值10-30英镑的木雕衣柜、桌子和茶几，小到价值5英镑的木雕画框都有。这些明码标价的产品很受欢迎，在木制品门类下，获得优异奖章。

Sun’s own contribution included over £235 worth of carved wood furniture: grand bed frames valued at £100, wardrobes and tea tables at £10–30, and picture frames at £5. These clearly priced items proved immensely popular and earned a top-tier medal in the woodcraft category.

1873年参展维也纳世博会的宁波家具，据注释，部分由孙信耕提供。

The Ningbo furniture exhibited at the Vienna World Expo in 1873 was, according to the annotation, partly provided by Sun Xingeng. 

珍贵的相册

A Rare Album Resurfaces

阿查理的相册。

The photo album by Alabaster.

阿查理的相册于2013年面世。阿查理，英国外交官，曾在1873年5月至1874年7月间担任英国驻甬领事馆领事。

The photo album by British diplomat Chaloner Alabaster surfaced at auction in 2013. Alabaster served as British consul in Ningbo from May 1873 to July 1874.

出现在拍场的这本相册共有照片120多张，其中有6张照片拍摄了25件甬作家具，包括红木清雕、嵌镶家具，做工繁缛、纹饰秾华，带有较为明显的巴洛克特征。经对比，这批家具正是远涉重洋，被宁波浙海关文牍李圭带到美国费城，代表中国参加了1876年费城世博会的那批，包括孙信耕的那张著名的“月床”。

The album features more than 120 images, including six of 25 pieces of Ningbo furniture—lavishly carved in redwood and inlaid with mother-of-pearl, showing strong Baroque influences. Research confirmed that these were the same works brought to Philadelphia in 1876 by customs official Li Gui, including Sun’s iconic moon bed.

费城艺术博物馆藏孙信耕制木雕屏风。

The wooden carved screen made by Sun Xingeng, collected by the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

据研究，孙信耕选送了90多件木雕家具去费城，包括床架、落地屏风、壁炉防火屏、桌椅、茶几、衣柜、边柜、展示柜和木匣等。其中，床架有三个，一个大型床架、一个法式床架、一个拱形床架（即月床）。浙海关税务司对此记录，孙信耕的商品总价值约12000至15000银元（12000银元约值2600英镑），他本人亲自赴会，还带着7名工匠。

Records show that Sun shipped over 90 pieces to the Philadelphia Exposition, including bed frames, folding screens, fire screens, wardrobes, side tables, and display cabinets. Among them were three different bed frames—one large, one French-style, and one arched moon bed. The total value of his exhibits was estimated at 12,000 to 15,000 silver taels (around £2,600), with individual bed frames appraised at £600-800 each. Sun personally attended the exposition accompanied by seven craftsmen.

两年后的1878年巴黎世博会，孙信耕再次率领团队奔赴巴黎。因为中国商品在费城博览会上颇受欢迎，有更多的中国商号委托海关在博览会上代销商品，孙信耕本人也准备了更多商品参加博览会，包括130多件木雕家具，另有189个适于作为参观纪念品的小相框，还有84件专门从北京置备的景泰蓝花瓶和器皿，以及精美的绣花窗帘8幅。最终，木雕相框和绣花布艺获得了主办方授予的银质奖章。

Two years later, Sun led the Chinese pavilion team at the 1878 Paris World Expo. Following the warm reception in Philadelphia, more Chinese merchants entrusted the Maritime Customs to exhibit and sell their goods. Sun prepared an even more extensive lineup: over 130 pieces of carved furniture, 189 small picture frames, 84 cloisonné vases from Beijing, and eight embroidered curtain panels. His wood frames and textiles earned silver medals from the Expo organizers.

西式风格的甬作家具

East Meets West in Ningbo Furniture

孙信耕的参展史，也是宁式家具走向国际的一部历史。虽然他的作品，经常是为满足西方受众品位而打造的“定制款”。

Sun’s exposition career illustrates the globalization of Ningbo-style furniture. Though often tailored to Western tastes, these works retained their Chinese character and craftsmanship.

带有宁波风格的漆桌，圣路易斯密苏里州历史博物馆藏。

The lacquered table in the Ningbo style, collected by the Missouri History Museum in St. Louis. 

今天的圣路易斯密苏里州历史博物馆收藏着一套宁波桌椅组合，紫檀木镶嵌白木纹饰，漆面光滑，做工繁复。这套精美的家具最初是在1904年的圣路易斯世界博览会上展出的，学者们认为它汲取了中国深厚的镶嵌和雕刻工艺传统，向外国观众强化了“中国高级家具”的形象。这套家具所用技巧即今宁波国家级“非遗”骨木镶嵌。转椅设计，一则满足西方人功能性需求，一方面展现“中国风味”，堪称中西合璧的代表。

A striking example still exists at the Missouri History Museum in St. Louis: a table and chair set made of rosewood, inlaid with white wood, and polished to a high gloss. Originally exhibited at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, the wonderful piece was acknowledged by scholars as drawing from deep Chinese traditions of inlay and carving, reinforcing the image of “premium Chinese furniture” for foreign audiences.The techniques used—most notably bone-and-wood inlay—are now recognized as part of China’s national intangible cultural heritage. The rotating chair design, a Western ergonomic innovation paired with Chinese ornamentation, stands as a perfect metaphor for cultural fusion.

宁波商人“出战”世博会

“Made-in-Ningbo” Takes Center Stage

进入民国后，振兴实业呼声日高。一批宁波商人拿着各自的“拳头产品”积极参与世博会，代表“国货”出海，屡获荣誉。

As China entered the Republican era (1912-1949), calls to revitalize the domestic industry grew increasingly louder. Ningbo’s merchants took to the global stage with ambition and pride, bringing their signature products to international expositions and earning honor after honor.

获得1915年巴拿马世博会金奖的“美华利”插屏钟。

The "Meihuali" brand clocks that won the gold medal at the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition.

宁波北渡商人、“钟表大王”孙梅堂，年轻时接手其父创办的上海美华利钟表总行，制造出第一批国产时钟。1915年，“美华利”牌时钟参加美国旧金山巴拿马世博会，取得各类时钟优质奖，“美华利”牌插屏钟，获得了大钟金质金章。

Sun Meitang, a clockmaker from Beidu in Ningbo, took over the Meihuaili Clock Company in Shanghai and produced the country’s first domestically made clocks. His “Meihuaili” brand clocks dominated the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Expo, winning numerous honors including a gold medal for a grand mantel clock.

五洲固本皂药厂使用的“荷叶荷花”牌商标。The "Lotus Leaf and Flower" brand trademark used by Wuzhou Guben Soap Factory. 

1915年，由宁波人项松茂发起组建创办的五洲大药房凭借其“地球”牌药品和“血字”牌保健品获得银质奖章。五洲固本皂药厂的“荷叶荷花”牌香皂等产品获得1926年费城世博会的化妆卫生用品类丙等金质奖章。

The 1915 Expo also saw Wuzhou Pharmacy, co-founded by Xiang Songmao, win a silver medal for its “Globe” brand medication and “Blood Character” health products. The company’s “Lotus Leaf and Flower” brand soap later won a bronze medal at the 1926 Philadelphia Expo.

主要由宁波人参与组建的商务印书馆，也是世博会上获奖专业户。1919年，商务印书馆机械工程师、慈溪人舒震东，对日文打字机技术进行创新改造，成功研制出中国第一台具有使用价值的中文打字机。1926年的费城世博会上，商务印书馆的中文打字机和该厂的教育印刷品及出版物揽获了多个奖项。 

The Commercial Press—also founded by Ningbo entrepreneurs—was another Expo heavyweight. In 1919, Cixi-born engineer Shu Zhendong improved upon Japanese typewriter designs to create China’s first functional Chinese typewriter. At the 1926 Expo, the Press swept awards for this invention as well as for educational prints and textbooks.

宁波的如生罐头鲜笋厂，以国内首创制作油焖笋闻名，“宝鼎”牌油焖笋不仅畅销国内市场且远销欧美，年产量曾达120万罐。在1926年的费城世博会上，“宝鼎”牌油焖笋罐头荣获特等奖，1927年的德国莱比锡世博会，“宝鼎”牌清水整蘑菇罐头荣获金质奖章。

Ningpo Z. S. Provision Factory, known for pioneering oil-braised bamboo shoots, exported its “Baoding” brand worldwide. The product won the grand prize in Philadelphia in 1926 and a gold medal for canned mushrooms in Leipzig the following year.

“三角”牌毛巾，上海黄浦区档案馆藏。

The "Triangle" brand towel, collected by the Archives of Huangpu District, Shanghai.

1926年，由三名慈溪人组建的三友实业社的“三角”牌毛巾在费城世博会上获纺织品类丙等金质奖章。

In 1926, the “Triangle” brand towels from SEAN YOU ZOO & CO., LTD.—founded by three entrepreneurs from Cixi—won a bronze medal in the textiles category in Philadelphia.

1933年，美国举办芝加哥世博会，在宁波人“火柴大王”刘鸿生的推动下，“大中华”旗下国产火柴品牌组团出海，名烟、金鸡、金鼠、仙鹤、五蝠等各色火花，在芝加哥世博会上竞相辉映……

At the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair, Ningbo’s “Match King” O. S. Lieu led a delegation under the “Greater China” label to showcase a dazzling array of match brands such as “Famous Smoke,” “Golden Rooster,” “Golden Mouse,” “Crane,” and “Five Blessings.”

宁波人严信厚曾创办老九章绸缎庄，1937年，老九章“麟章”牌绸缎在法国巴黎世博会上获得金奖。

In 1937, silk merchant Yan Xinhou’s “Linzhang” brand, from his LAOU KIU CHWANG KUNG KEE SILK Co. in Ningbo, won the gold medal at the Paris World Expo.