CHINA Canton Barge Men Watch Quail Fight &Dyeing and winding silk framed prints

Description: Pair of vintage framed gravures depicting Canton Barge-men, Fighting Quails and Silk production: CHINA Canton Barge Men Watch Quail Fight and Dyeing and winding silk. Lettering: Drawn by T. Allom Year of printing:not indicated in the print. Age toning of paper. Reverse side is blank Dimensions: 8 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches, including blank margins around the image. Each image area measures 7 x 4 3/4 inches Presentation: Wooden frame in the shape of rhombus Painted in gold Framed under glass with the mirror finish texture applied underneath with the 4 1/2 by 6 1/2" opening in the middle. Decorative film shows signs of wear, scratches, etc. Estimated dates of production: unknown Plates were originally published in the book: Citation: The Chinese empire: illustrated: being a series of views from original sketches, displaying the scenery, architecture, social habits, &c., of that ancient and exclusive nation / by Thomas Allom, esq., with historical and descriptive letterpress, by the Rev. G. N. Wright, M. A. The work contains a succinct account of the history of China; a narrative of British connexion with that nation, the opium war of 1840, and full details of the causes and events of the present war. Thomas Allom. G.N. Wright. The London Printing and Publishing Co. c1858 Original Narrative: In every country vice has established a dominion of greater or less extent, which the most polished manners and most moral laws have not been able to subdue. Of this truth, London and Paris, chief cities of the world, present a melancholy evidence. It is even remarkable, that gambling, the most detestable of all demoralizing habits, is claimed, in those great capitals, as a privilege of the aristocracy, while in China it is confined almost entirely to plebeian society. Gaming amongst the Chinese is analogous to the coarse species of chances and swindling, practised at our country fairs, and on every race-course, with this difference only, that cards are there in more general requisition. The athletic bargemen on the Pearl river, devote every hour, that can be stolen from work, to the recreation of gambling; and, the weary trader, emancipated from temporary slavery, buries all his sorrows in the excitation which this vile propensity awakes. Children partake of this national weakness in some degree, or rather the vicious habits of society create an appetite in the youthful mind. A fruit-vender disposes of his goods by a sort of lottery, or game of hazard; supplied with a box and dice, he presents them to his customer, who stakes the price against the selected fruits. The first throw is the buyer's privilege, and the winner, of course, takes up both fruit and money. Raffling is also a favourite mode of barter; provisions of every description are disposed of in this way, and so insensibly does vice obtain the mastery, that wives, or children, are sometimes the last stake played for between these habitual gamblers...

Price: 150 USD

Location: Lubbock, Texas

End Time: 2025-02-03T22:28:11.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD