Object Description
Set of twelve antique Chinese pith paper paintings of festival processions
Chinese, 19th Century
Panel: Height 20cm, width 31cm
Frame: Height 37cm, width 49cm, depth 1.5cm
This charming set of twelve paintings depicts a series of vignettes of festival processions. Groups of men and women can be seen carrying banners, lanterns, and other celebratory objects. In one, an official is carried on a sedan chair, while in another a group of musicians can be seen playing their instruments. The figures are dressed in a variety of typical Chinese garments in vibrant colours, which stand out against the plain white background. The vividness of the colours is aided by the use of pith paper as a base, which allows the watercolour to pool on the surface to create bright, raised areas.
Pith paper paintings such as these were immensely popular during the 19th century. Designed specifically for the export market, Western visitors would delight in these quaint collections, which could easily be transported home in a photo album. The paintings would typically depict the daily lives and customs of the area, or indigenous plants and animal life.
Each painting is enclosed in a later-added red-painted wooden frame.
This fantastic collection gives an insight into Chinese customs at the time, making it a fabulous item for any antique collector.