A Non-License Plate ad by Roger C. Haynes

Just a few short months after James Markwick arrived in China, the Governor of Shen-Si Province demanded that he and his party leave Sian-Fu (Pronounced She'on-Foo) with the clothes on their backs, leaving all their belongings and money behind. He had branded them Foreign Devils and Spies, entering his province to start a rebellion among the tens of thousands of starving Chinese.

James Markwick and the senior Missionary refused his demand explaining they were there to help but the Governor would not hear of it. When they refused to leave he sentenced them to be executed in six days, by beheading!!!

How James Markwick found himself in this deadly situation; how he escaped the headsman and the story over all is the subject of SHADOW OF THE CROSS, the book you have heard me mention several times at the Convention and most recently here in TNS. It is a remarkable story of an even more remarkable man, my Great Grandfather.

Now I'm 52 years old and have nobody to pass these stories on to, so I felt compelled to write this book. Likewise I have nobody to pass on to this remarkable collection of Chinese items that James brought home with him in 1880. Folks, that's a year before the Earps walked into the OK Corral, it wasn't yesterday!!!

Below are photos recently taken of just some of the items I have that were antiques, many of them, when the Great Grandfather got them over 119 years ago. Because they are Chinese they are thought to be common on the market place but you can not find most items like these.

The vase is 17th Century. This deduced by experts in China when I contacted them through a U.S. Chinese representative in 1974. The items were deemed to be very valuable if genuine. Melony Delholm of the Mint Museum in Charlotte made the final personal inspection and gently suggested they could be donated to the Museum for a considerable tax write off. Her offer was declined. The items placed in a rather large lock box at my bank, and there they remain. Out of public view and very much so against the best wishes of my Grandmother, the daughter of James who always thought they did belong on public display.

This 17th century vase is thought to be a wedding present by the small paintings depicted on it, that is why it is shown twice, there are 5 "Orbs" as I choose to call them, each having a different symbol painted on them. Those five openings around the center stem are all one chamber, while the center stem is a bud vase of sorts, a separate part of the same vase. Quite unique and only recently we finally found a vase Similar, but not identical in a book, it called it a tulip bulb vase.

It is for sale but the price is not cheap. If you are interested please call or write, all inquiries will be kept confidential. It is of a heavy clay construction, not light and is stunning when you actually see it in person, brilliant blue on white porcelain. 10" tall, no cracks or chips, minor flaws in firing 300+ years ago....

The soap stone carving on the right is "The Devils Recording Secretary" an idol the Chinese told the Grandfather had great significance to them for this secretary recorded your sins in the book he is holding open in his left hand, a quill pen in his right. Because if he was found the Chinese would kill him, he is always pictured on the head of a beast which you can make out in the photo. This too is for sale.

Other items shown: An opium pipe, barely visible in the dark lower left photo. Then on the sheet of paper marked #1 is an intricate brass lock, still in working order. On sheet #2 are two pieces of Chinese "Knife Money" that are from what one book calls ancient China, over 2,000 years ago.

The lower right photo is a brush rest, a desk object to lay your paint brush over when executing the beautiful Chinese Calligraphy. Likewise in the picture of the statue is a small man, looking down a well. This is a water vessel used to keep water available while working with a calligraphy brush. (I'm told?) The man attached has a separate story.

I hope to have these items in color on my web site, if you're curious, look it up. I'm confident SHADOW OF THE CROSS will be published. Many more details on request!

Sure I regret selling the items, but would feel worse not to invest in my book...