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H990.277.272 - Incense Burner
The bronze metal incense burner stood on the Yip Sang ancestor altar. The burner contains fine sand and ash and supported burning sticks of incense. Incense was burned at the altar to honour the family's ancestors.
H990.277.273 - Soul Tablet
This soul tablet memorializes Lee Shee, Yip Sang's first wife, who died in China and never accompanied her husband to Vancouver. Soul tablets are a kind of portable memorial to a deceased individual. The tablet usually has the name of the deceased written on it. This tablet has framed text which rests on two carved legs to make it sit upright.
H990.277.274 - Soul Tablet
This soul tablet memorializes successive generations of the Yip family in Nanyang County in China. Soul tablets are a kind of portable memorial to deceased people. The tablet usually has the name of the deceased written on it. This soul tablet has framed text which rests on two carved legs to make it sit upright.
H990.277.275 - Photo, Unidentified Older Woman
The framed photograph is a picture of an older woman wearing traditional Chinese clothing sitting in front of a portrait studio screen beside a covered table. The photograph is framed with an embossed mat and has been placed in a gilt frame. The woman in the photograph has not been identified by any members of the Yip family. Originally the picture was displayed on the Yip Sang ancestor altar, suggesting the person was a deceased ancestor.
H990.277.276 - Photo, Dong Shee
The framed photograph shows Dong Shee, Yip Sang's third wife who was known as "First Lady," sitting in an ornate chair, wearing Chinese clothes and shoes. Dong Shee was born in China in 1865 and died in Vancouver in 1941 at the age of 76. Dong Shee's photo hung above the Yip Sang ancestor altar along with portraits of Yip Sang's other wives.
H990.277.277 - Photo, Wong Shee
This framed photo depicts Wong Shee, Yip Sang's second wife who was known as "Second Lady," sitting in an ornate chair, wearing Chinese clothes and shoes. Wong Shee was born in China in 1869 and died in Vancouver in 1957 at age 88. When Yip Sang's first wife Lee Shee became fatally ill, she advised Yip Sang to find another wife. He chose Wong Shee, described as "a very young woman with sensitive eyes" to look after his family. His first wife, Lee Shee, judged the second wife to be too young and inexperienced and advised him to marry a third time. Yip Sang took Dong Shee as his third wife. She was considered to be mature and capable of managing the household and children. Wong Shee was the first of Yip Sang's wives to come to Vancouver. Wong Shee's photograph hung above the ancestor altar with portraits of Yip Sang's other wives.
H990.277.279 - Photo, Wedding Party
The framed photograph is of an unidentified Chinese wedding party. Both the bride and the groom are dressed in Western style clothing instead of traditional Chinese clothes. Since the photo stood on the ancestor altar, these people were likely deceased ancestors. There are two stamps on the back of the photograph. The first reads: "Mee Cheung Photographer Hong Kong", while the second reads: "Eng Chow Co. 104 Pender St. E. Vancouver, B.C."
H990.277.280 - Photo, Yip Sang
This framed photograph of Yip Sang shows him in his old age, wearing a Western style suit, tie and eye glasses. The picture may have been taken shortly before his death in 1927. The framed photograph hung over the ancestor altar to honour Yip Sang, patriarch of the Yip clan in Canada. A sticker on the back of the photo indicates that it was taken at the Yucho Chow Studio on Pender Street, one of two Chinese Canadian photographers with studios in Vancouver at that time.
H990.277.281 - Photo, Chin Shee
The framed photograph of Chin Shee, Yip Sang's fourth wife, known as "Third Lady". The frame is stamped "Wand Studio". C.B. Wand, a photographer, was married to one of Yip Sang's granddaughters, Alice Yip. Chin Shee's photograph hung over the ancestor altar along with portraits of Yip Sang's other wives.
H990.277.282 - Embroidered Pictures - Four Seasons
The silk embroidered pictures depict the four seasons. Each piece illustrates a season by depicting of birds and flowers associated with the season.
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H990.277.283 - Crate
H990.277.284 - Crate
H990.277.285 - Trunk
H990.277.289 - Framed Calligraphy
The framed calligraphy was originally presented to Dr. Kew Ghim Yip by a group of friends on the occasion of his graduation from medical school at Queen's University some time between 1925 and 1930. The writing reads: "To [our] honorable older brother Dr. Kew Ghim Yip / He has the skill to examine in Western medicine / presented collectively by his admiring friends". Thirteen of his friends' names follow this text. The calligraphy was hung in the third floor school room of the Wing Sang building.
H990.277.290 a & b - CBA Homage to Yip Sang
The framed pieces of calligraphy were presented to Yip Sang by the Chinese Benevolent Association in recognition of his life's work and contributions to Vancouver's Chinatown community. The pieces pay tribute to Yip Sang's life work and generosity. These framed works were located in the third floor school room of the Wing Sang building
H990.277.291 - Framed Calligraphy
Depicted on a red ground is the Chinese character for longevity. The red background symbolizes good fortune and this sort of calligraphy was often displayed at birthday celebrations. The piece hung in the third floor school room of the Wing Sang building which was also used for birthday festivities.
H990.277.292 - Framed Calligraphy
The framed calligraphy was presented during a birthday celebration, perhaps to Yip Sang. It reads, "May prosperity, longevity and many sons unfold for you. To celebrate is just and fitting. May you have a full cup, congratulations modestly submitted." The text is followed by the names of many individuals and businesses who apparently gave the greeting. The framed calligraphy resided on the third floor school room of the Wing Sang building.
H990.277.293 - Framed Calligraphy
This framed piece of calligraphy was probably presented to Yip Sang by his nephew and his children. It has been roughly translated as "Green water is not like strings of a lute or ten thousand ancient pianos, congratulations and honour" followed by the name of Yip Sang's nephew and his children. The calligraphy is written in ink on a silk background.
H990.277.294 - Table
This tall narrow table had an accompanying shorter, square table which stood nested beneath it. These two tables formed the ancestor altar on the third floor school room of the Wing Sang building. The tall table has marks on it left by use -- wax from candles and water marks from vases and potted plants. The relief carving around the tall table shows Chinese motifs related to the altar's use -- pots, vases, incense burners, kettles, cups, and scrolls. Both altar tables were made without nails. Chinese writing on the underside of the large table indicates it was directly imported from China.
H996.17.1 - Three Welled Plastic Container
The three hollows in this plastic container may have held change or possibly paper clips. The container was located in the back office of the Wing Sang store.
H996.17.2 - Inkstand
The glass molded inkstand held ink and a fountain pen. The plastic black cap on the inkstand was designed to swivel around to reveal a ink small hole. The opening allowed the writer to dip the pen into the ink. After writing, the black cap was swung back in place, covering the ink and preventing it from drying out. The inkwell was used in the office at the back of the Wing Sang store.
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