China Trade Watercolor and Gouache on Pith Paper Set of Twelve Paintings of Fruit and Flowers

Details

Description

Chinese Export Botanical Paintings on Pith Paper
Guangdong Province,
A Set of Twelve,
Circa 1850

This complete and beautifully preserved … Read more Chinese Export Botanical Paintings on Pith Paper
Guangdong Province,
A Set of Twelve,
Circa 1850

This complete and beautifully preserved set of twelve botanical still lifes is a superb example of the unique artworks created by Chinese artists for the Western market in the mid-19th century. Each painting, executed in vibrant watercolor and gouache on delicate pith paper, depicts a different arrangement of fruit and flowers. The remarkable brilliance of the colors and the almost three-dimensional quality of the paintings are a direct result of the unique properties of the pith paper itself.

The entire set is presented in handsome period mats and frames, featuring a gilt inner edge, a French-style marbled body, and a variegated marble-patterned border, indicating they were highly valued by their original owner. The presence of old labels from the London-based framer Graham Harrison on the reverse further speaks to the quality of their preservation.

Historical Background & Pith Paper

By the mid-19th century, following the opening of more treaty ports, the China Trade was flourishing. Western merchants, sailors, and early tourists were eager to bring home souvenirs of their travels, and Chinese workshops in cities like Canton (Guangzhou) responded by producing albums and sets of paintings depicting all aspects of Chinese life, flora, and fauna.

The Magic of Pith Paper:

These paintings are on a unique medium often misidentified as "rice paper." It is, in fact, pith paper, the delicate, shaved cellular tissue from the stem of a small tree, Tetrapanax papyrifer. This velvety, absorptive surface allows watercolor and gouache pigments to sit on top, creating a luminous, jewel-like effect that cannot be replicated on traditional paper. The fragility of the medium makes a complete, well-preserved set like this exceptionally rare.

A Window on the East:
Sets of botanical paintings were particularly popular with Westerners, satisfying both a scientific curiosity and a decorative taste for natural history that was prominent in the Victorian era. These paintings were more than just souvenirs; they were a vibrant window into the exotic and beautiful natural world of China, executed in a unique hybrid style that blended Chinese subjects with Western materials and artistic formats.

This complete set is a remarkable survival, offering a direct and colorful connection to the fascinating history of 19th-century cross-cultural trade.

Details & Provenance
Condition: Excellent antique condition. The pith is well-preserved, and the colors are exceptionally bright.

Dimensions:

Frame: 14 1/2 inches high x 18 1/2 inches wide (36.83 cm×46.99 cm)

Sight: 7 inches high x 10 1/2 inches wide (17.78 cm×26.67 cm)

Provenance: Old framing labels on the reverse from Graham Harrison, London.

(Ref: NY9339-cmrr) See less