China Trade Painting of Flowers & Butterflies, Circa 1880

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Description

This delicate watercolor captures a spray of pale roses with full, ruffled blooms and fresh green foliage, attended by three … Read more This delicate watercolor captures a spray of pale roses with full, ruffled blooms and fresh green foliage, attended by three butterflies rendered in soft naturalistic tones. The composition shows the refined hand-painting technique characteristic of China Trade work, where artists combined European botanical precision with Asian materials and sensibility.

Circa 1880, this piece exemplifies the China Trade painting tradition, in which Chinese and foreign artists working in treaty ports created works for Western collectors. The style blends meticulous botanical study with the decorative appeal of insects, a combination that appealed to Victorian taste for nature studies and exotic craftsmanship. If you'd like to learn more about our products, please visit our university page for more information. See less