Chinese Export School (19th century) An album with 118 fine original drawings of traditional trad...

Chinese Export School (19th century) An album with 118 fine original drawings of traditional trades, crafts people and pastimes, brush and black ink, on traditional Chinese handmade paper, drawings to both recto and verso of a double folded album leaf, each side approx. 295 x 290 mm (11 5/8 x 11 1/2 in), minor spotting and surface dirt, a few small pin holes and nicks to edges, contemporary red morocco, spine gilt and with letters 'Chinese Sketches', some loss to lower section of spine, rubbed and scuffed, numerous small losses to covers and corners, large 4to, [probably circa 1830-1850] *** From the early late 18th century on, numerous artists in Canton were commissioned to produce artworks for the European market, with the present album being a fine example of the skilled and precise Chinese draughtsman. The various characters include diverse trades and crafts such as hat making, decorating porcelain, making lanterns, numerous examples of food preparation, and more obscure characters including a man walking his dog, the dog adorned with a large nose ring.