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Antique Mid to Late Qing Chinese Export Tong Cao Gouache on Pith Painting Of Emperor

Antique Mid to Late Qing Chinese Export Tong Cao Gouache on Pith Painting Of Emperor

Regular price $1,200.00 AUD
Regular price Sale price $1,200.00 AUD
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Antique Tong Cao Chinese Export Gouache on Pith Paper Painting, Mid to Late 19th century, Late Qing Period.

This particular painting depicts a Qing imperial court mandarin in court regalia. Possibly the Emperor or high ranking minister, his status can be seen through his robes, jade ornaments and ornate chair.

Tongcao (通草) paintings, which were painted directly on Tongcao pith, were produced mainly in late Qing Dynasty of China (1840-1912AD) in Guangzhou. As Tongcao paintings imitated western painting style to some extent and vividly recorded nearly all aspects of local customs of Guangzhou at that time, they were favored by foreigners once they were created. Almost every foreigner would buy and bring them to his homeland to share with his friends and families what they saw in Guangzhou before the invention of camera, so they also had another name of Guangzhou Postcard.

The treaty port of Canton (Guangzhou) was the only one open to western merchants, and for six months a year. They traded mainly in silk or tea, but the influx of visitors led to a market for objects produced expressly for export. As a representative export painting from Guangzhou in the 19th century, Tongcao paintings were a vivid reflection on the integration of trade, culture and art between China and the West along the Maritime Silk Road. The brilliant colours used in tongcao painting were a reflection of the intricate trade routes that congregated in Canton; cobalt and other minerals that created the vivid colours signature of tongcao paintings were a reflection of the trade that made production and demand for these exquisite paintings viable.

Price marked at $1200 AUD.
Measurements: 19.5 by 25.5cm.
Condition: Pith paintings are notoriously fragile, with one split to paper as seen, as well as wear and foxing as pictured. The picture has been reframed and is under conservation glass.

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