19th century, finely painted with gouache of various pairs of birds amidst lush botanicals, with exterior border of light orange silk, all framed identically under glass, not examined outside of the frame.

DOA 10.5 x 14.75 in.

Estate of the Late William R. and Sally W. Phillips, Petersburg, VA

Chinese pith paper paintings were a popular souvenir to bring home during the first half of the 19th century due to their small size and light weight. They were often created in album form which further protected the paintings from exposure to light. The nature of the pith paper and its cellular structure resulted in the gouache paint used by the Chinese to sit on the surface of the paper and produce bright and sparkling compositions.

Good color; some tears to pith and creasing or buckling; some foxing spots; some losses to pith.

$400 - 800