Fine Quality Three Character Mid-19thC Framed Chinese Water Color Pith Painting

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Fine quality three character mid 19th century (circa 1850) watercolor on pith paper; a Chinese painting; depicting an Emperor with. … Read more Fine quality three character mid 19th century (circa 1850) watercolor on pith paper; a Chinese painting; depicting an Emperor with. perhaps, a concubine by his side and a page or eunuch tending to his comfort needs. The fine crafted table to the left is accommodating, what appears to be, a water pipe, perhaps to provide an opium high at some point. All are positioned on a well made colorfully embroidered patterned rug.

Subjects are hand painted In bright colors by the artist, with deep emerald green to the concubine; deep purple to the Emperor, and a tanned robe to the page; with specific attention to small details like facial features, natural creases to the clothing, and orientation and postures of the three characters to each other. There is a definite three dimensional aspect to the painting (which is a notable characteristic of many paintings done on pith paper) whereby the emperor and his robe seem to "pop out" slightly; not as evident in the images but definitely visual in real life. The subject matter was chosen by the artists for the tourists trade with the goal being that they would take home with them some semblance of Chinese life, in this case, how the people were ruled and the accompanying mores and customs going along with those traditions.

The picture is in very good and completely all original condition with no restorations or over-paint of any kind. It is mounted under glass with a thin line 1" deep black wooden frame bearing a slight gloss; and a 2 1/4" wood grain looking matte border complemented by a pronounced deep cut angle to the matte. The paper is in fabulous condition with only a slight couple of 1/2" breaches in the field and no noticeable foxing; simply a great example of a Chinese pith painting, to either add to a collection,or mount as a stand alone work of art---really appealing subject matter, and fine quality.

The rear of the framing indicates it was probably mounted in France as the address of the establishment is written in French.

Dimensions:
10 1/2" high x 7 3/4" wide (actual painting)
15" high x 12 1/4" wide x 1" deep (frame included)

Note: Please see my other 19th century Chinese Pith Paintings that I have listed for sale.

Background:
19th century Chinese "Pith Paintings" were produced by local Chinese artists; painted predominately in watercolor on sheets of "pith paper" hand cut and trimmed from the stem of a papyrus type plant (indigenous to China), often mistakenly referenced as rice paper. Actual pith paper is porous and spongy, which results in the paint sitting on the surface, and producing a crisp and velvety look, with strong and vibrant sharp colors, often appearing as three dimensional.

During the 1800's in cities like Canton, China, and other tourist attractions, Chinese artisans painted and sold these gems to travelers as souvenirs to give them a glimpse of life in the "Orient" at the time. Whether it be their dress, customs, mores, or dining habits, Chinese tradition was featured on these small paintings and often they were placed in an inexpensive frame for the long journey home by land and sea. They were very rarely signed. The "heyday" of pith paintings was from the 1830's to 1870's (albeit, some earlier examples, circa 1820's, have been noted). The advent of photography in the late 1800's resulted in their demise. These mementoes turn up mainly in England, Western Europe, and to some extent, the United States; wealthy Americans having ventured to China in the mid to late 19th century.

Today, Chinese Pith Paintings have universally become quite collectible by antique aficionados and also, for those who like historical 19th century contemporaneous Asian artifacts. Collections can be found and viewed in the British Museum, The Hermitage, and The Peabody/ Essex Museum in Massachusetts.

Note: I am a second generation antiques dealer and have been in business, buying, selling, and collecting, for 50 years; I am also a member of several prestigious antique associations. Thus, I am well qualified to inspect and evaluate the products I offer for sale and I guarantee this to be authentic and as I have described. See less