The Costumes of China

Chinese

Ashmolean Museum

circa 1789

A bound volume of 60 watercolours and a manuscript for George Henry Mason's 'Costume of China' and a printed copy. The watercolours were painted anonymously in Canton in 1789 according to an inscription in the volume. In the printed version, each illustration bears the signature 'Pu Qua, Canton, Delin.'; however nothing is known of such artist. Large quantities of watercolours were produced in Canton for the foreign market in the second half of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911).

• Artists Include:
• George Henry Mason

• Medium: watercolour on paper & printed book
• Dimensions: 33.6 x 26.5cm & 37 x 27.5cm
• Art Fund Grant: £5000 ( Total: £17,000)
• ArtFunded in: 2003
• Vendor: Anonymous

Provenance

A bookplate in the printed volume states library of Sir Hugh H Smiley, Bt.; included in the purchase of a house by vendor's father in 1932; then by descent.

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