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Pair Framed Chinese Watercolour Pith Rice Paper Paintings Dignitaries

20th Century

Pair of early 19th century Chinese export watercolour paintings Chinese, Early 19th Century Paper: Height 51cm, width 41cm Frame: Height 70cm, width 59cm, depth 6cm This exquisite...

Six Antique Pith Rice Paper Chinese Watercolour Paintings Birds Chinese, 19th Century Height 33cm, width 42.5cm, depth 1.5cm This captivating set of six Chinese paintings, dati...

Early 20th century pair of Chinese ancestral paintings in custom frames. Nice antique pair with vibrant colors in wood and gilt frames, in...

Believing that the departed continue to hold influence over the lives of the living, many Chinese households honor their ancestors in private family rituals, invoking their spirits for long life, health, and prosperity. Commemorative portraits, which came into vogue in the late Ming and Qing dynasties, were commissioned specifically for ancestor worship and were believed to house the spirits of the deceased. When properly cared for, one's ancestors were believed to be a powerful source of honor, protection, and good luck. This pair of ancestor portraits was hand-painted in the late-19th century and beautifully depicts a Qing-dynasty couple. While some ancestral portraits offer a more stylized representation of one's ancestors, this particular pair is painted with incredible realism and life-like expressions. Rather than depict the pair in a regal hall wearing elaborate finery, the couple is shown in a quiet home environment, seated at either end of a square tea table. Their surroundings are minimal, practically undecorated, and they wear simple, matching blue silk robes. Two young children stand beside them, each trying to capture the attention of their grandparent. We love the painting's close attention to detail and the glimpse it offers of Qing-dynasty interiors - from the carved apron of the marble-top table to the red silk lotus slippers...