CHINA, 19th century. Set of eight gouaches on... Lot 30

CHINA, 19th century. Set of eight gouaches on rice paper (pith paper) representing interior scenes with members of the imperial family. H. from 31 x 17.8 cm to 31.8 x 19.7 cm (on view) Reference: See for an album of pith-paper tongcao (Tetrapanax papyrifera) by the Zhou Peichun Workshop (active ca. 1880-1910) Beijing at the V&Aref. D.1651-1900 depicting craftsmen by and illustrated by Craig Clunas in "Chinese Export Watercolours" London, 1984, plate 42 & p.72 See also CHL 13 May 2008 L264, CHL 16 Nov 1999 L272, &CHL 10 Nov 2005 L657. condition: a few small tears Provenance: Vaud collection Note: See C.L. crossmann "The decorative Arts of the China Trade", Woodbridge, Suffolk, 1991, pp.200 & 201, who quotes a visitor's account from 1844 that most paintings on rice paper (pith paper) '... cost, for the usual class of excellence, from one to two dollars a dozen... Or you can order a set including the emperor and empress, and the chief mandarins and ladies of the court, in the finest finery, and finished as miniatures, for eight dollars.