Object Description
Set of Antique Chinese pith paintings depicting tea production
Chinese, 19th Century
Panel: Height 21cm, width 33cm
Frame: Height 37cm, width 49cm, depth 1.5cm
These six painted vignettes expertly depict the process of tea production, capturing a snapshot of rural life in 19th century China.
The figurative paintings are filled with character, depicting men and women collecting shrubs or drying out tea leaves. Vibrant shades of red, green, and blue stand out against a plain white background, and the flat surfaces and block colours are typical of 19th century Chinese artworks. The pith paper medium aids the brightness of colour, since it allows paint to pool on the surface like an enamel.
Chinese pith paintings such as these were designed for Western export, as beautiful souvenirs of Westerners’ travels to the East. The paintings would usually capture the life and customs of the local area, whether that be indigenous flora and fauna or daily activities.
The paintings are ensconced in later added vibrant blue painted frames, that wonderfully complement the colours of the paintings themselves.
Remarkably well preserved, this superb set of paintings is filled with history, and would make a charming addition to an antique collection.