Chinese Pith Paper Painting - 19th Century Origin - Korea The skilfully turned legs offer

The skilfully turned legs offer an incredibly sturdy base

The front panel features finely painted figures set within an interior scene inspired by Chinese opera

age-related wear

It is constructed in the Ming style with clean lines and hoof feet and dates to the 19th century

Materials: Teak wood with original painted surface

Chinese Pith Paper Painting - 19th Century Origin - Korea The skilfully turned legs offerThis excellent antique Chinese pith painting is painted on pith paper and dates from the 19th century. Pith paintings were painted in China for the European export market which was enjoying a fascination with all things Chinese and Chinoiserie. 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.