Reginald Hedgeland, Chinese Maritime Customs Commissioner & Quite the Tennis Player

Posted: April 28th, 2026 | No Comments »

Reginald Hedgeland (1874-1967) was a Chinese Maritime Customs Commissioner (with his archive at SOAS in London). He joined the CMCS in 1898, after Oxford. He retired in 1930 having worked in Hoihow [Haikou], Nanking [Nanjing], Tientsin [Tainjin], Macau, Hong Kong, Nanning, Aigun, Swatow [Shantou] and Canton [Guangzhou]. ere

Here some items recently up for auction that were owned by Hedgeland. A silver presentation sugar bowl, by Wing Chun of Hong Kong, c.1903 is inscribed ‘K M Shaw and R F C Hedgeland Men’s’ Handicap Doubles’ and ‘Tientsin Lawn Tennis Club 1903’ and a silver ‘dragon’ champagne bowl, by Tuck Chang, c.1904, engraved ‘Tientsin Lawn Tennis club men’s handicap doubles 1904.’ Quite the tennis player – he was also awarded a silver two (bamboo style) handled cup, c.1910, inscribed ‘Ladies Recreation Club Hong Kong Mixed Doubles Handicap December 1910 Mrs Armstrong & RFC Hedgeland’.

Also a pair of silver ‘dragon’ toothpick holders, two basket shaped salt cellars and five Chinese silver menu holders, by Wang Hing, c.1903 also belong to Hedgeland as well as a silver beaker , with inscriptions in Mandarin from an official in Nanning.

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