{"title":"Pittura del midollo","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"antique-19th-century-chinese-pith-painting-torture-scene-caged-prisoner-jq-447","title":"Dipinto antico cinese del XIX secolo, scena di tortura: prigioniero in gabbia","description":"\u003cp\u003e Dipinto cinese originale del XIX secolo su tela, raffigurante una scena di punizione e tortura: un prigioniero in gabbia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e Un'affascinante pittura cinese in stile midollare raffigurante una raccapricciante scena di tortura. Una delle dodici scene di tortura che abbiamo in vendita, questo soggetto esercitava un fascino particolare sugli occidentali della Cina della tarda dinastia Qing. Potevano assistere direttamente al sistema giudiziario cinese, in tribunale o per strada, dove la tortura veniva inflitta sia come strumento di interrogatorio che come punizione retributiva. Un elemento significativo della punizione era l'umiliazione e il disonore, e le punizioni venivano quindi eseguite come spettacolo pubblico.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eL'apparente brutalità della tortura suscitò inevitabilmente un interesse macabro, ma i rituali punitivi erano affascinanti anche per ciò che rivelavano sulle strutture e le credenze sociali più ampie. A causa della natura popolosa della Cina, la vita era considerata una merce a basso costo. Secondo il pensiero confuciano, la decapitazione era la punizione suprema, poiché lasciare un cadavere incompleto era un grave insulto agli antenati. Le grandi dimensioni della Cina significavano anche che il governo imperiale era decentralizzato e le punizioni venivano inflitte a livello locale, dove corruzione e concussione facevano la loro parte. Coloro che infliggevano la tortura – poliziotti e carnefici – erano spesso essi stessi iniqui e criminali. I punitori erano, tuttavia, temperati dal fatto che un'eccessiva durezza poteva essere contrastata dal potere della massa.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e Le parti cutanee dell'immagine (volti e arti) sono dipinte sul retro del midollo, conferendo un senso di tridimensionalità accentuato. Il nastro blu originale è applicato lungo i bordi del midollo.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52010768433481,"sku":"JQ-447","price":98.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/jq-447.jpg?v=1743409936"},{"product_id":"antique-19th-century-chinese-pith-painting-qing-dynasty-blind-musician-jx-990","title":"Antico dipinto cinese del XIX secolo – Musicista cieco della dinastia Qing","description":"\u003cp\u003e Dipinto originale cinese su tela del XIX secolo, raffigurante un musicista cieco della dinastia Qing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e Un vivace acquerello su tela raffigurante una donna cinese cieca della dinastia Qing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e Il midollo è sciolto e non appoggiato su alcun supporto.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52018316443977,"sku":"JX-990","price":58.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/jx-990.jpg?v=1743505160"},{"product_id":"antique-19th-century-chinese-pith-painting-qing-dynasty-imperial-bodyguard-jx-991","title":"Antica pittura cinese del XIX secolo – Guardia del corpo imperiale della dinastia Qing","description":"\u003cp\u003eDipinto originale cinese su tela del XIX secolo, raffigurante la guardia del corpo imperiale della dinastia Qing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e Un vivace acquerello su tela, con raffinati dettagli del costume e del viso.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e Il midollo è sciolto e non appoggiato su alcun supporto.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52018316706121,"sku":"JX-991","price":48.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/jx-991.jpg?v=1743505164"},{"product_id":"antique-19th-century-chinese-pith-paintingparadise-bird-on-orange-flower-branch-kb-482","title":"Antico dipinto cinese del XIX secolo: uccello del paradiso su ramo di fiori d'arancio","description":"\u003cp\u003e Dipinto originale cinese del XIX secolo su midollo, raffigurante un pigliamosche del paradiso cinese su un ramo fiorito d'arancio.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e Un bellissimo piccolo dipinto cinese ad acquerello su carta midollare.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e Uno dei tre modelli che abbiamo in vendita (vedere i numeri di catalogo da KB-482 a KB-484).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e Si prega di notare le piccole dimensioni di questa opera d'arte.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52021457027401,"sku":"KB-482","price":31.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/kb-482.jpg?v=1743520751"},{"product_id":"antique-19th-century-chinese-pith-painting-pair-of-chinese-geese-kb-486","title":"Antico dipinto cinese del XIX secolo – Coppia di oche cinesi","description":"\u003cp\u003e Dipinto originale cinese su tela del XIX secolo raffigurante una coppia di oche cinesi.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e Un bellissimo dipinto cinese ad acquerello su midollo. I dettagli di uccelli, fiori e foglie sono squisitamente dipinti. Nell'arte tradizionale cinese, una coppia di uccelli rappresenta un matrimonio felice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e Questo è uno dei tanti dipinti cinesi di uccelli su midollo che abbiamo in vendita.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52021460336969,"sku":"KB-486","price":180.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/kb-486.jpg?v=1743520759"},{"product_id":"antique-19th-century-chinese-pith-painting-qing-dynasty-women-with-fan-kc-561","title":"Antique 19th-century Chinese Pith Painting – Qing Dynasty Women with Fan","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original late 19th-century chinese painting on pith – Qing Dynasty Women with Fan.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA vibrant painting on pith depicting ladies of the Qing Dynasty court in decorated costume.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe pith is loose without any backing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is one of a set of ten similar pith paintings that we have for sale (see stock numbers KC-560 to KC-569.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52948561494345,"sku":"KC-561","price":21.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/kc-561.jpg?v=1757941651"},{"product_id":"antique-19th-century-chinese-pith-painting-qing-dynasty-women-kc-560","title":"Antique 19th-century Chinese Pith Painting – Qing Dynasty Women","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original late 19th-century chinese painting on pith – Qing Dynasty Women.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA vibrant painting on pith depicting ladies of the Qing Dynasty court in decorated costume.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe pith is loose without any backing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is one of a set of ten similar pith paintings that we have for sale (see stock numbers KC-560 to KC-569.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52948562051401,"sku":"KC-560","price":26.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/kc-560.jpg?v=1757941652"},{"product_id":"antique-19th-century-chinese-pith-painting-qing-dynasty-women-kc-563","title":"Antique 19th-century Chinese Pith Painting – Qing Dynasty Women","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original late 19th-century chinese painting on pith – Qing Dynasty Women.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA vibrant painting on pith depicting ladies of the Qing Dynasty court in decorated costume.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe pith is loose without any backing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is one of a set of ten similar pith paintings that we have for sale (see stock numbers KC-560 to KC-569.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52948562542921,"sku":"KC-563","price":26.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/kc-563.jpg?v=1757941656"},{"product_id":"antique-19th-century-chinese-pith-painting-qing-dynasty-women-with-flowers-kc-565","title":"Antique 19th-century Chinese Pith Painting –Qing Dynasty Women with Flowers","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original late 19th-century chinese painting on pith – Qing Dynasty Women with Flower Basket.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA vibrant painting on pith depicting ladies of the Qing Dynasty court in decorated costume.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe pith is loose without any backing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is one of a set of ten similar pith paintings that we have for sale (see stock numbers KC-560 to KC-569.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52948562575689,"sku":"KC-565","price":26.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/kc-565.jpg?v=1757941656"},{"product_id":"antique-19th-century-chinese-pith-painting-qing-dynasty-women-with-fan-flower-kc-564","title":"Antique 19th-century Chinese Pith Painting –Qing Dynasty Women with Fan \u0026 Flower","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original late 19th-century chinese painting on pith – Qing Dynasty Women with Fan \u0026amp; Flower.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA vibrant painting on pith depicting ladies of the Qing Dynasty court in decorated costume.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe pith is loose without any backing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is one of a set of ten similar pith paintings that we have for sale (see stock numbers KC-560 to KC-569.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52948562772297,"sku":"KC-564","price":21.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/kc-564.jpg?v=1757941659"},{"product_id":"antique-19th-century-chinese-pith-painting-qing-dynasty-women-kc-568","title":"Antique 19th-century Chinese Pith Painting – Qing Dynasty Women","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original late 19th-century chinese painting on pith – Qing Dynasty Women.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA vibrant painting on pith depicting ladies of the Qing Dynasty court in decorated costume.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe pith is loose without any backing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is one of a set of ten similar pith paintings that we have for sale (see stock numbers KC-560 to KC-569.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52948564017481,"sku":"KC-568","price":24.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/kc-568.jpg?v=1757941664"},{"product_id":"antique-19th-century-chinese-pith-painting-qing-dynasty-women-kc-562","title":"Antique 19th-century Chinese Pith Painting – Qing Dynasty Women","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original late 19th-century chinese painting on pith – Qing Dynasty Women.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA vibrant painting on pith depicting ladies of the Qing Dynasty court in decorated costume.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe pith is loose without any backing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is one of a set of ten similar pith paintings that we have for sale (see stock numbers KC-560 to KC-569.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52948564181321,"sku":"KC-562","price":26.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/kc-562.jpg?v=1757941668"},{"product_id":"antique-19th-century-chinese-pith-painting-qing-dynasty-women-kc-569","title":"Antique 19th-century Chinese Pith Painting – Qing Dynasty Women","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original late 19th-century chinese painting on pith – Qing Dynasty Women.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA vibrant painting on pith depicting ladies of the Qing Dynasty court in decorated costume.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe pith is loose without any backing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is one of a set of ten similar pith paintings that we have for sale (see stock numbers KC-560 to KC-569.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52948564345161,"sku":"KC-569","price":18.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/kc-569.jpg?v=1757941673"},{"product_id":"chinese-school-camellia-iris-flowers-with-butterfly-insect-original-19th-century-chinese-painting-on-pith-kd-334","title":"Antique 19th-century Chinese Pith Painting – Camellia \u0026 Iris Flowers with Butterfly \u0026 Insect","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original 19th-century chinese painting on pith – Chinese School, Camellia \u0026amp; Iris Flowers with Butterfly \u0026amp; Insect.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA beautiful 19th-century Chinese painting on pith, with fine detail to the petals, leaves and insects.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn pith laid down on original album page backing paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvenance: from an album of works connected to Alice (1838–1860) and Mina Morton (1829–1880), daughters of the Irish missionary in India, William Morton.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54050477015369,"sku":"KD-334","price":148.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KD-334.jpg?v=1773922604"},{"product_id":"chinese-school-monarch-butterfly-on-yellow-chrysanthemum-flowers-original-19th-century-chinese-painting-on-pith-kd-331","title":"Antique 19th-century Chinese Pith Painting – Monarch Butterfly on Yellow Chrysanthemum Flowers","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original 19th-century chinese painting on pith – Chinese School, Monarch Butterfly on Yellow Chrysanthemum Flowers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA beautiful 19th-century Chinese painting on pith, with fine detail to the petals, leaves and insects.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn pith laid down on original album page backing paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvenance: from an English album dating from around 1829.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54050477277513,"sku":"KD-331","price":180.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KD-331.jpg?v=1773922616"},{"product_id":"chinese-school-chinese-orange-lily-flower-with-beetle-insect-original-mid-19th-century-chinese-painting-on-pith-kd-577","title":"Chinese School, Chinese Orange Lily Flower with Beetle Insect – Mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith – Chinese School, Chinese Orange Lily Flower with Beetle Insect.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA beautiful small Chinese painting in watercolour on pith.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDelicate pith paintings by local Chinese artists were collected by Western travellers and merchants from around 1825 onwards. By 1833 the monopoly of trade by the English East India Company had come to an end, opening the China trade to dozens of British companies and seeing the number of merchants and volume of trade flourish. Paintings on pith were produced in port cities to meet the Western demand for local Chinese souvenirs. Relatively inexpensive and conveniently portable, they were often glued into albums to provide protection on the long voyage home.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTypically the paintings would depict attractive local subjects such as cultivated flora, indigenous birds and insects, and local trades, customs and costumes. The painting style would combine a traditional Chinese approach of flattened sweeps of colour with aspects of Western influence in detail and realism.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith paper behaves very differently from conventional rag or woodpulp paper. Rather than being plant fibres matted together into a layer, pith is composed of plant cells sliced directly from the inner tissue of the Tetrapanex papyrifera plant, native to Southern China and Taiwan. This unique composition makes it extremely vulnerable to damage by moisture and other environmental factors, becoming very brittle over time and subject to distinctive cracking. It is rare, therefore, that such paintings survive in pristine condition. Being routinely tipped onto album pages, they also often bear glue marks and related discolouration.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith also behaves unlike conventional paper as a painting support. Watercolour and gouache paint readily absorb into the plant cells of the pith to create a rich, velvety depth of colour, and then paint pools in relief on the surface, producing exquisitely vibrant raised details, of sparkling, jewel-like intensity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn pith laid down on backing paper. Please note the small size of this artwork.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54541774324041,"sku":"KD-577","price":36.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KD-577.jpg?v=1780569882"},{"product_id":"chinese-school-chinese-quince-fruit-original-mid-19th-century-chinese-painting-on-pith-kd-572","title":"Chinese School, Chinese Quince Fruit – Mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith – Chinese School, Chinese Quince Fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA beautiful small Chinese painting in watercolour on pith.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDelicate pith paintings by local Chinese artists were collected by Western travellers and merchants from around 1825 onwards. By 1833 the monopoly of trade by the English East India Company had come to an end, opening the China trade to dozens of British companies and seeing the number of merchants and volume of trade flourish. Paintings on pith were produced in port cities to meet the Western demand for local Chinese souvenirs. Relatively inexpensive and conveniently portable, they were often glued into albums to provide protection on the long voyage home.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTypically the paintings would depict attractive local subjects such as cultivated flora, indigenous birds and insects, and local trades, customs and costumes. The painting style would combine a traditional Chinese approach of flattened sweeps of colour with aspects of Western influence in detail and realism.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith paper behaves very differently from conventional rag or woodpulp paper. Rather than being plant fibres matted together into a layer, pith is composed of plant cells sliced directly from the inner tissue of the Tetrapanex papyrifera plant, native to Southern China and Taiwan. This unique composition makes it extremely vulnerable to damage by moisture and other environmental factors, becoming very brittle over time and subject to distinctive cracking. It is rare, therefore, that such paintings survive in pristine condition. Being routinely tipped onto album pages, they also often bear glue marks and related discolouration.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith also behaves unlike conventional paper as a painting support. Watercolour and gouache paint readily absorb into the plant cells of the pith to create a rich, velvety depth of colour, and then paint pools in relief on the surface, producing exquisitely vibrant raised details, of sparkling, jewel-like intensity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn pith laid down on backing paper. Please note the small size of this artwork.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54541776322889,"sku":"KD-572","price":38.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KD-572.jpg?v=1780569922"},{"product_id":"chinese-school-chinese-loquat-fruit-original-mid-19th-century-chinese-painting-on-pith-kd-571","title":"Chinese School, Chinese Loquat Fruit – Mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith – Chinese School, Chinese Loquat Fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA beautiful small Chinese painting in watercolour on pith.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDelicate pith paintings by local Chinese artists were collected by Western travellers and merchants from around 1825 onwards. By 1833 the monopoly of trade by the English East India Company had come to an end, opening the China trade to dozens of British companies and seeing the number of merchants and volume of trade flourish. Paintings on pith were produced in port cities to meet the Western demand for local Chinese souvenirs. Relatively inexpensive and conveniently portable, they were often glued into albums to provide protection on the long voyage home.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTypically the paintings would depict attractive local subjects such as cultivated flora, indigenous birds and insects, and local trades, customs and costumes. The painting style would combine a traditional Chinese approach of flattened sweeps of colour with aspects of Western influence in detail and realism.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith paper behaves very differently from conventional rag or woodpulp paper. Rather than being plant fibres matted together into a layer, pith is composed of plant cells sliced directly from the inner tissue of the Tetrapanex papyrifera plant, native to Southern China and Taiwan. This unique composition makes it extremely vulnerable to damage by moisture and other environmental factors, becoming very brittle over time and subject to distinctive cracking. It is rare, therefore, that such paintings survive in pristine condition. Being routinely tipped onto album pages, they also often bear glue marks and related discolouration.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith also behaves unlike conventional paper as a painting support. Watercolour and gouache paint readily absorb into the plant cells of the pith to create a rich, velvety depth of colour, and then paint pools in relief on the surface, producing exquisitely vibrant raised details, of sparkling, jewel-like intensity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn pith laid down on backing paper. Please note the small size of this artwork.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54541792870729,"sku":"KD-571","price":52.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KD-571.jpg?v=1780570138"},{"product_id":"chinese-school-chinese-pomelo-fruit-original-mid-19th-century-chinese-painting-on-pith-kd-573","title":"Chinese School, Chinese Pomelo Fruit – Mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith – Chinese School, Chinese Pomelo Fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA beautiful small Chinese painting in watercolour on pith.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDelicate pith paintings by local Chinese artists were collected by Western travellers and merchants from around 1825 onwards. By 1833 the monopoly of trade by the English East India Company had come to an end, opening the China trade to dozens of British companies and seeing the number of merchants and volume of trade flourish. Paintings on pith were produced in port cities to meet the Western demand for local Chinese souvenirs. Relatively inexpensive and conveniently portable, they were often glued into albums to provide protection on the long voyage home.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTypically the paintings would depict attractive local subjects such as cultivated flora, indigenous birds and insects, and local trades, customs and costumes. The painting style would combine a traditional Chinese approach of flattened sweeps of colour with aspects of Western influence in detail and realism.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith paper behaves very differently from conventional rag or woodpulp paper. Rather than being plant fibres matted together into a layer, pith is composed of plant cells sliced directly from the inner tissue of the Tetrapanex papyrifera plant, native to Southern China and Taiwan. This unique composition makes it extremely vulnerable to damage by moisture and other environmental factors, becoming very brittle over time and subject to distinctive cracking. It is rare, therefore, that such paintings survive in pristine condition. Being routinely tipped onto album pages, they also often bear glue marks and related discolouration.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith also behaves unlike conventional paper as a painting support. Watercolour and gouache paint readily absorb into the plant cells of the pith to create a rich, velvety depth of colour, and then paint pools in relief on the surface, producing exquisitely vibrant raised details, of sparkling, jewel-like intensity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn pith laid down on backing paper. Please note the small size of this artwork.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54541793329481,"sku":"KD-573","price":52.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KD-573.jpg?v=1780570150"},{"product_id":"chinese-school-chinese-mandarin-orange-original-mid-19th-century-chinese-painting-on-pith-kd-574","title":"Chinese School, Chinese Mandarin Orange – Mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith – Chinese School, Chinese Mandarin Orange.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA beautiful small Chinese painting in watercolour on pith.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDelicate pith paintings by local Chinese artists were collected by Western travellers and merchants from around 1825 onwards. By 1833 the monopoly of trade by the English East India Company had come to an end, opening the China trade to dozens of British companies and seeing the number of merchants and volume of trade flourish. Paintings on pith were produced in port cities to meet the Western demand for local Chinese souvenirs. Relatively inexpensive and conveniently portable, they were often glued into albums to provide protection on the long voyage home.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTypically the paintings would depict attractive local subjects such as cultivated flora, indigenous birds and insects, and local trades, customs and costumes. The painting style would combine a traditional Chinese approach of flattened sweeps of colour with aspects of Western influence in detail and realism.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith paper behaves very differently from conventional rag or woodpulp paper. Rather than being plant fibres matted together into a layer, pith is composed of plant cells sliced directly from the inner tissue of the Tetrapanex papyrifera plant, native to Southern China and Taiwan. This unique composition makes it extremely vulnerable to damage by moisture and other environmental factors, becoming very brittle over time and subject to distinctive cracking. It is rare, therefore, that such paintings survive in pristine condition. Being routinely tipped onto album pages, they also often bear glue marks and related discolouration.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith also behaves unlike conventional paper as a painting support. Watercolour and gouache paint readily absorb into the plant cells of the pith to create a rich, velvety depth of colour, and then paint pools in relief on the surface, producing exquisitely vibrant raised details, of sparkling, jewel-like intensity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn pith laid down on backing paper. Please note the small size of this artwork.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54541798244681,"sku":"KD-574","price":78.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KD-574.jpg?v=1780570269"},{"product_id":"chinese-school-chinese-grouper-fish-original-mid-19th-century-chinese-painting-on-pith-kd-580","title":"Chinese School, Chinese Grouper Fish – Mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith – Chinese School, Chinese Grouper Fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA beautiful small Chinese painting in watercolour on pith.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDelicate pith paintings by local Chinese artists were collected by Western travellers and merchants from around 1825 onwards. By 1833 the monopoly of trade by the English East India Company had come to an end, opening the China trade to dozens of British companies and seeing the number of merchants and volume of trade flourish. Paintings on pith were produced in port cities to meet the Western demand for local Chinese souvenirs. Relatively inexpensive and conveniently portable, they were often glued into albums to provide protection on the long voyage home.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTypically the paintings would depict attractive local subjects such as cultivated flora, indigenous birds and insects, and local trades, customs and costumes. The painting style would combine a traditional Chinese approach of flattened sweeps of colour with aspects of Western influence in detail and realism.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith paper behaves very differently from conventional rag or woodpulp paper. Rather than being plant fibres matted together into a layer, pith is composed of plant cells sliced directly from the inner tissue of the Tetrapanex papyrifera plant, native to Southern China and Taiwan. This unique composition makes it extremely vulnerable to damage by moisture and other environmental factors, becoming very brittle over time and subject to distinctive cracking. It is rare, therefore, that such paintings survive in pristine condition. Being routinely tipped onto album pages, they also often bear glue marks and related discolouration.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith also behaves unlike conventional paper as a painting support. Watercolour and gouache paint readily absorb into the plant cells of the pith to create a rich, velvety depth of colour, and then paint pools in relief on the surface, producing exquisitely vibrant raised details, of sparkling, jewel-like intensity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn pith laid down on backing paper. Please note the small size of this artwork.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54541798965577,"sku":"KD-580","price":98.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KD-580.jpg?v=1780570298"},{"product_id":"chinese-school-chinese-silver-carp-fish-original-mid-19th-century-chinese-painting-on-pith-kd-581","title":"Chinese School, Chinese Silver Carp Fish – Mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith – Chinese School, Chinese Silver Carp Fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA beautiful small Chinese painting in iridescent paint on pith.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDelicate pith paintings by local Chinese artists were collected by Western travellers and merchants from around 1825 onwards. By 1833 the monopoly of trade by the English East India Company had come to an end, opening the China trade to dozens of British companies and seeing the number of merchants and volume of trade flourish. Paintings on pith were produced in port cities to meet the Western demand for local Chinese souvenirs. Relatively inexpensive and conveniently portable, they were often glued into albums to provide protection on the long voyage home.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTypically the paintings would depict attractive local subjects such as cultivated flora, indigenous birds and insects, and local trades, customs and costumes. The painting style would combine a traditional Chinese approach of flattened sweeps of colour with aspects of Western influence in detail and realism.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith paper behaves very differently from conventional rag or woodpulp paper. Rather than being plant fibres matted together into a layer, pith is composed of plant cells sliced directly from the inner tissue of the Tetrapanex papyrifera plant, native to Southern China and Taiwan. This unique composition makes it extremely vulnerable to damage by moisture and other environmental factors, becoming very brittle over time and subject to distinctive cracking. It is rare, therefore, that such paintings survive in pristine condition. Being routinely tipped onto album pages, they also often bear glue marks and related discolouration.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith also behaves unlike conventional paper as a painting support. Watercolour and gouache paint readily absorb into the plant cells of the pith to create a rich, velvety depth of colour, and then paint pools in relief on the surface, producing exquisitely vibrant raised details, of sparkling, jewel-like intensity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn pith laid down on backing paper. Please note the small size of this artwork.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54541799424329,"sku":"KD-581","price":98.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KD-581.jpg?v=1780570310"},{"product_id":"chinese-school-prisoner-his-captors-original-mid-19th-century-chinese-painting-on-pith-kd-584","title":"Chinese School, Prisoner \u0026 His Captors – Mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original mid-19th-century chinese painting on pith – Chinese School, Prisoner \u0026amp; His Captors.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn interesting Chinese painting in watercolour on pith.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDelicate pith paintings by local Chinese artists were collected by Western travellers and merchants from around 1825 onwards. By 1833 the monopoly of trade by the English East India Company had come to an end, opening the China trade to dozens of British companies and seeing the number of merchants and volume of trade flourish. Paintings on pith were produced in port cities to meet the Western demand for local Chinese souvenirs. Relatively inexpensive and conveniently portable, they were often glued into albums to provide protection on the long voyage home.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTypically the paintings would depict attractive local subjects such as cultivated flora, indigenous birds and insects, and local trades, customs and costumes. The painting style would combine a traditional Chinese approach of flattened sweeps of colour with aspects of Western influence in detail and realism.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith paper behaves very differently from conventional rag or woodpulp paper. Rather than being plant fibres matted together into a layer, pith is composed of plant cells sliced directly from the inner tissue of the Tetrapanex papyrifera plant, native to Southern China and Taiwan. This unique composition makes it extremely vulnerable to damage by moisture and other environmental factors, becoming very brittle over time and subject to distinctive cracking. It is rare, therefore, that such paintings survive in pristine condition. Being routinely tipped onto album pages, they also often bear glue marks and related discolouration.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePith also behaves unlike conventional paper as a painting support. Watercolour and gouache paint readily absorb into the plant cells of the pith to create a rich, velvety depth of colour, and then paint pools in relief on the surface, producing exquisitely vibrant raised details, of sparkling, jewel-like intensity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn pith laid down on backing paper.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54541805420873,"sku":"KD-584","price":110.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KD-584.jpg?v=1780570362"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/collections\/M5-a-JM-767.jpg?v=1742291850","url":"https:\/\/somersetandwood.com\/it-eu\/collections\/pith-painting.oembed","provider":"Somerset \u0026 Wood Fine Art","version":"1.0","type":"link"}