Richly colored paintings as were sold to foreigners in China in the 19th Century, depicting scenes and activities unknown to the West and therefore prized souvenirs to bring home to illustrate one's adventures in the far East. In this case, two scenes involving tea; one showing figures selecting tea, the other showing a tea merchant, with big labeled boxes of tea and attendants with cups of tea; both no doubt part of a series of paintings depicting tea production. On the backs of both paintings, a typed note including the following information: "The Chinese Pictures were brought back from China in 1878 by my father, William Read Eutcher, an officer in the Navy-who was on Asiatic duty in the Far East--two years on the USS Ashelott. They are painted on rice paper which was made by getting the pulp out of rice stems, mixing it with water and pouring it on slabs of marble to dry." --Read Butcher, Son of Wm. R, Sr. " The paintings are handsomely mounted with brilliant blue mats and gilt wood frames. Frames, approx. 21 1/2" x 16 1/2". Sight, approx. 11 1/2" x 6 1/2".