Michael Pashby Antiques http://www.michaelpashbyantiques.com/shop/asian-campaign-colonial/an-exquisite-and-important-pair-of-chinese-paintings-on-silk-of-a-portuguese-couple-c-1760/ Export date: Sat May 11 10:22:58 2024 / +0000 GMT |
An Exquisite and Important Pair of Chinese Paintings on Silk of a Portuguese Couple, c. 1760Inventory Number: : 180-111 Price: SOLD 12 ½ ins. high and 10 ins. wide For more information please contact us TELEPHONE. 917 414 1827 EMAIL. [email protected] www.michaelpashbyantiques.com © Michael Pashby Antiques.
DESCRIPTIONFrom the renowned Mottahedeh Collection these illustrations came from two eighteenth century volumes depicting Westerners and Chinese provincial traders and artisans. Probably commissioned by a wealthy and powerful Chinese merchant in Canton to record the vast diversity of the population these pieces are unique in having applied captions describing the people and commenting on their appearance and habits. The captions can be translated as follows; Portuguese Male: “He is a Westerner who has a white skin. He does not have a heavy beard but plaits his hair. He wears a triangular black hat, short jacket, leather shoes and long stockings. After about seven months he will leave Kuangtung (Canton) by water. At present he is living in the district of Aomen (Macao)” Portuguese Female: “This woman comes from the country over the great western seas (Portugal). She has curled hair that is tied into a bun. Gold, pearls and jewels hang from her collar. She wears a tunic and skirt made of brocade and drapes a shawl over her back. It is the custom of her country to value women over men so she can inherit her family's fortune. If she inherits property a man would marry into her family.” Gouache on silk Canton, China. c. 1760 Illustrated: Provenance:
|