Featured Chinese rice paper paintings

I visited Nantwich this morning. I stuck a needle in a map and googled it. It looked like a bonny place so off I went. There was an antiques market on in the street which was a pleasant surprise. I picked up these rice paper paintings. I probably paid a bit over the odds for them but I really like them so I splashed out.

 

Attractive. I see how they caught your eye.

 

Looks like gouache on pith as opposed to rice paper.

 

There have been a couple of other threads on Chinese paintings on pith, which include links to articles on the subject:

https://www.antiquers.com/threads/antique-chinese-portraits-painted-on-pith-paper.46186/

https://www.antiquers.com/threads/miniature-chinese-paintings.62789/#post-4174909

 

Are those folks Imperial Court Officials? Their wardrobes are so various an' detailed, I wonder if there's a story hidden in them. Beautiful...I, too, would have scooped 'em up, Pronto...Thanks!

 

Okay thank you. I stand corrected. I thought rice paper and pith were one and the same but I guess not now.

 

Interesting read thank you. I now know what pith is. I just assumed that they were antique when I bought them. Is there possibility that they might be more recent reproductions? What would be the indicators of age?

 

damage..?
these r looking pretty fragile ...

 

There is some damage yes. They look as fragile as anything I have ever seen. He had several others but the damage was quite severe. Some spilt from top to bottom. I grabbed the best ones.

 

I think that's what they are. I've never seen this type of costume before but that's the general consensus of google results. I'm not sure if there is a story, rather they are just in a series like cigarette cards. Ive seen similar online in collections of 12/14. He also had a little book depicting different types of punishment. Quite brutal. :O

 

19th-century Chinese export paintings on pith paper depicting scenes of punishment and execution are highly sought-after, detailed, and often grim works of art that were created as souvenirs for Western travelers, traders, and sailors. These paintings, often produced in sets, offer a glimpse into the judicial and penal system of Qing Dynasty China, frequently focusing on public displays of torture, corporal punishment, and executions

who knew ?

 

u may want to take a crack at those......

 

although , yours are very nice !!!!!!!!

 

although.............. MMoA......... similar to your 1st one...

 

He had two others in the same style as the first image. I went back to buy them but then realised they had the splits in them so ai dodged them. I have seen the prices vary greatly online. They seem to go to next to nothing on ebay but can fetch hundreds each at the larger auction houses. I guess you are paying for expert evaluation and appraisal. I paid £20 each for these so I think they will hold their value.

 

They do have nice detail and shading..

 

One i saw was 'Removal of flesh, piece by piece'. It would be interesting to know what punishments befitted each crime.

 

Info on what pith paper is and how the pith - rice confusion came about (it's not just you):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pith_paper

 

I don't think I need to know.

 

So rice paper and pith paper are synonyms but its just not made out of rice?