Set of Four Pith Paper Paintings (Opium) - Canton 1840-1860

Set of Four Chinese Export Pith Paper Paintings
Drawn by: Chinese Export Artists (Canton School)
Location: Canton (Guangzhou), China
Year: c. 1840–1860
Provenance: Accompanied by "Antiques of the Orient" labels.
Condition: Hand-painted gouache on pith paper; professionally matted

A Vibrant Record of 19th-Century Chinese Life
This set of four original 19th-century paintings belongs to a specialized genre known as Chinese Export "Pith" paintings. Created specifically for Western traders in the bustling port of Canton, these works were prized as vivid, portable "souvenirs" of the East, long before the age of photography.

The Medium: Pith Paper
Often misidentified as "rice paper," pith is actually the delicate, honeycomb-like cellular tissue of the Tetrapanax papyrifer plant. This unique surface allows the gouache pigments to sit on top, creating a vibrant, jewel-like luminosity and a three-dimensional quality that cannot be replicated on conventional paper.

Scenes of Traditional Trades and Daily Life
The paintings depict various "trades" and "domestic ceremonies," which were the most popular themes for Western collectors of the era.