Chinese watercolors on pith paper

[tamrock]

I picked these up yesterday at an indoor flea market. What I found is they are known as watercolors on pith or rice paper? I'm not sure of how old they are, other then a label on the back says they were framed by the Denver Dry Goods store, which was a early department store that began back in the 19th century, though these frames look like they date more around the 1930's? Each little painting is about the size of a baseball card and look to depict various Chinese tradesmen such as a black smith and other trades. Some of the little pictures are torn, but looking on eBay I'm seeing others up for sale with damage, so I don't know how much that effects the value?. It be nice to know more about the age of these, but at $5.50 each I just couldn't leave without them. I'm pretty sure they're worth more then I paid.

 

[ironman123]

Very interesting find.

 

[JimDon]

Nice colors after all these years. Chinese stuff though I never know how to value.

 

[ethanfez]

That is a weird looking anvil in that one painting. Never seen one that style.

 

[tamrock]

Nice colors after all these years. Chinese stuff though I never know how to value.

I know. There were some sold on eBay to get a bit of an idea, but still ya never really know until you put it out there.