Beschreibung:

Chinese Export School. An album of butterfly and insect pith paintings, mid-19th century, watercolour heightened with gold on pith paper (17.6 x 25.6 cm), 12 leaves each containing approximately 6 vignettes of butterflies (the first with illustrations of insects), mounted on separate paper sheet within blue silk ribbon border, some restoration to verso of second leaf, some small chips to edges, 7 with small holes to leaves (mainly to margin, leave one with hole to eye of insect), presentation inscription in ink to front pastedown dated '1865', contemporary Chinese binding of patterned red silk over boards, green fabric ties, silk largely worn away on spine, folio (22 x 29.4 cm), together with 9 individual pith paintings, watercolour and bodycolour on pith paper, depicting various scenes including: court scenes, Empress sitting at a table, flogging, junk ships, warriors sparring, and one Chinese ink and watercolour on paper, mounted individually on paper then laid onto card, sheet sizes approximately 18.6 x 13 cm (Quantity: 11)