Lot 228: Youqua (active 1840-1870)

Youqua (active 1840-1870)
An album of twelve leaves of flower-studies in gouache on pith paper, glued in an album with silk covers, with label inscribed 'Youqua Painter, Old Street, No. 34', some damages to the pith paper
Each leaf 20 x 30 cm., the album 25 x 33 cm.

Chinese Export Paintings
Christie’s charges a premium to the buyer on the Hammer Price of each lot sold at the following rates: 29.75% of the Hammer Price of each lot up to and including €5,000, plus 23.8% of the Hammer Price between €5,001 and €400,000, plus 14.28% of any amount in excess of €400,000. Buyer’s premium is calculated on the basis of each lot individually.
Youqua was an export painter active from the 1840's to the 1880's and who set up workshops in Canton and Hong Kong under the name 'Yeehing'. See G. Clunas, Chinese Export Watercolours, 1984. For further discussion on pith paper (derived from the pith of Tetrapanax papyrifera) paintings, see C. L. Crossmann, The Decorative Arts of the China Trade, Woodbridge, Suffolk, 1991, pp.200-202, and colour plate 70 and pls. 105 and 106 for examples of Youqua's pith paper work and label.
A similar album was sold in these rooms on 20 November 2007, lot 227.