A set of six well preserved mid nineteenth century gouache paintings of birds, painted on Chinese pith paper and made for the export market, circa 1850. © 2012 MALLETT ANTIQUES

The birds include pheasants, water fowl, song birds, guinea fowl and ibis. H: 7.5 in (19.0 cm). W: 11.4 in (29.0 cm)

Pith comes from the central column of spongy cellular tissue in the stem of a small tree called Tetrapanax Papyrifera, native to south-west China and a member of the ginseng family. It has had a variety of uses, some going back many centuries, such as artificial flowers, hairpins and medicinal purposes. In the early nineteenth century it became very popular as a surface for painting with water colours and tempera. Presumably it came into use for painting to satisfy the increasing demand for small, inexpensive and easily transported souvenirs. http://www.mallettantiques.com/