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Pair of Antique Botanical Pictures of Exotic Flowers and Butterflies

About the Item

A pair of exquisite gouache / watercolour studies of exotic flowers and butterflies; European in the Cantonese style, circa 1900. Why we like them Exquisitely hand-painted with lots of minute details, vibrant and luscious, these beautiful pictures are wonderfully decorative and will fit perfectly into a contemporary or an eclectic interior. Framed and glazed, overall size 38.5 cm by 32.5 cm, size of plates 25.5 cm by 20.5 cm Floral illustrations were extremely popular in Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries. Ever hungry for exotic things from the mysterious Orient, European public quickly developed taste for exquisite decorative objects from Canton, including reverse glass or mirror paintings, as well as oils and watercolours, which had became one of the staples of the China Trade by the 19th century. While they were mostly painted on inexpensive pith paper, cut directly from the dense wood of a tree native to the Ginseng family, the more prestigious export water-colours had often been painted on fine Chinese paper or on paper imported from Europe. Because many were sold in albums and hence protected from the light, they retain their bright colours to this day.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 12.8 in (32.5 cm)Width: 15.16 in (38.5 cm)Depth: 0.79 in (2 cm)
  • Sold As:
    Set of 2
  • Style:
    Chinese Export (In the Style Of)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Circa 1890-1910
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading.
  • Seller Location:
    London, GB
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1781233877972
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