From Imperial China; Late 18th century/middle 19th century

Portraits of Mandarin of the second class and of his wife. The rank is established by the square badge painted on the black garment; The bird represents a golden pheasant

Most likely from the school of Canton, or Anglo-Chinese school

Painted in gouache on rice paper

120cm wide x 200cm high, framed in a 1980s' gold painted wooden frame with a perspex cover

Historical, rare and quality paintings depicting a high-ranking civil official and his wife. The bird emblem on the black garment, a golden pheasant, signifies the rank of Mandarin of the second class, associated with the Imperial Court. Mandarin squares, first used in 1391 by the Ming Dynasty, depicted birds for civic officials and animals for military officials.The badges were used by the Qing Dynasty until the Imperial system fell in 1912

The official features a black and red hat with a crystal at the top, has long nails and wears a black trimmed coat for official occasions, known as pufu

The wife reveals a Manchu style hairdressing with beautiful, jade earrings typical of the era's rendering

Looking at the rank badges, the red sun disk, generally thought of as representing the Emperor of China, was always placed for the official in the upper left corner, while his wife's one was made in mirror vision so that the sun disk was in the upper right corner and the embroidered bird was looking towards the husband

The works are painted in gouache and retain brilliant colours as the artist would make the coloured pigments from natural components such as minerals, using gold to gild the details

The portraits would be commissioned when the man was promoted to higher office, they would be realistic and life-like, characteristic of class distinction and of the painting style of the period

The paintings are very finely executed most likely from school of Canton or Anglo-Chinese school of painting. A typical example of this school was the portrait of the Governor of Canton Ye Mingchen

It is conceivable that the portraits had on the upper side a briefing illustrating the honours of the official, and the seals of the artist enabling us to identify the high ranking official and the exact period of execution

The paintings would have been placed in the hall or ancestral temple of the mansion to be honoured by the family

>> In good condition except for scarring on the lady and small tarnish to the paper consistent with age and history

Provenance: These portraits have been purchased in 1982 from a very well known antique dealer in Hong Kong by the present owner. They were then professionally framed with a strong paper supporting the thin rice paper on which they were painted. Perspex was used instead of glass due to the size of each frame (200cm x 120cm)