An incomplete set of seven watercolor paintings on rice paper depicting the steps in the pottery making process. It is housed in a fabric album with pale blue silk frames. The set includes the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 8th, 10th (part 1 and 2), These albums of paintings executed in southern China in the second half of the 19th century were intended for Westerners and illustrated the main elements of Chinese life: fishing, flora and fauna, industry, musical instruments, interior decoration, etc. The Chinese paper commonly called “rice paper”, with a satin appearance, is taken from the marrow of Tetrapanax papyfera. This extremely fragile paper is called “pith paper” in English. It is marked on the guard sheet with a red stamp of “Yungqua, dealer in pictures, charts & c.” which was one of the most productive workshops in Canton at the time.

Fair to good condition with the album cover loose from the set. Some of the paintings are torn but the pieces remain together. There is wear throughout the fragile paper.

9.5 x 13 x 1 in