{"product_id":"rice-paper-opium","title":"Set of Four Pith Paper Paintings (Opium) - Canton 1840-1860","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSet of Four Chinese Export Pith Paper Paintings\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDrawn by: Chinese Export Artists (Canton School)\u003cbr\u003eLocation: Canton (Guangzhou), China\u003cbr\u003eYear: c. 1840–1860\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: Accompanied by \"Antiques of the Orient\" labels.\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Hand-painted gouache on pith paper; professionally matted\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Vibrant Record of 19th-Century Chinese Life\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Medium: Pith Paper\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOften 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScenes of Traditional Trades and Daily Life\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe paintings depict various \"trades\" and \"domestic ceremonies,\" which were the most popular themes for Western collectors of the era. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Treasures of the Orient","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43764694417473,"sku":null,"price":6000.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0572\/7125\/5105\/files\/8BC21811-5449-47A7-AE21-F6E98A5B71D4.jpg?v=1775977469","url":"https:\/\/treasuresoftheorient.com\/products\/rice-paper-opium","provider":"Treasures of the Orient","version":"1.0","type":"link"}