Framed Chinese Pith Painting Watercolour of A Dignitary - 19thC

This excellent antique Chinese pith painting is painted on pith paper and dates from the 19^th century. Pith paintings were painted in China for the European export market which was enjoying a fascination with all things Chinese and Chinoiserie. Here, a dignitary can be seen wearing traditional Chinese dress adorned with dragons and holding a ruyi (ceremonial scepter).

Pith paper is the spongy cellular tissue in the stem of a small tree called Tetrapanax Papyrifera, native to southwest China. Pith is incredibly fragile and as such, many of these paintings have not survived.

These old Chinese watercolour paintings have been reframed by our skilled team. 

Although these paintings are in very good condition for their age, slight tearing can be seen running from the left hand down to the foot.

Dimensions:

Frame Size 27.7 x 3 x 38.5 (wxdxh cms)

Painting Size: 14 x 26 (wxh cms)

From China

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