A pair of Chinese export watercolours on pith paper, depicting the process of silk production. The remnants of the original 19th Century paintings have been historically saved, backed and reframed in simple red frames during the first half of the 20th Century.
Such images were often created as part of a series, documenting various aspects of Chinese life, such as silk or tea production.
Pith paper is not a manufactured paper but is derived from the spongy tissue of the Tetrapanax papyriferum tree. The unique cellular structure of pith paper allows for vibrant colours and fine details.
