Framed Watercolour Painting of A Dignitary on Pith Paper – 19th Century

Here, a dignitary can be seen seated on a ceremonial chair and wearing traditional Chinese dress adorned with dragons.

Pith paper is the spongy cellular tissue in the stem of a small tree called Tetrapanax Papyrifera, native to southwest China. Pith is incredibly fragile and as such, many of these paintings have not survived.

Framed in a simple gilt frame.