HUA NIAO HUA CE: PAIR OF HAND-PAINTED COLOR BIRD & FLOWER ALBUMS.

[Shanghai ca. 1800-1828]. Silk-brocade covers, somewhat worn rubbed, two miniature accordion-folded albums, 5.3 x 11 cm., 24p.x 2=48 pages in all, long horizontal color scroll, hand- painted color, 129.5 cm. long. A COMPLETE RARE SET ! *** *** *** . . A LOVELY TWO VOLUME SET OF HAND-PAINTED BIRDS & FLOWERS . . . AN UNUSUAL FORMAT, MAKING A LARGER PAINTING . . . BY PLACING ONE ALBUM ABOVE THE OTHER . . . THUS MAKING A LOVELY 'SCREEN' TYPE EXAMPLE . . *** A MOST UNUSUAL FORMAT: . Two books opened fully, one above the other, creates a "scroll-like" view of color-painted landscape, flower and birds. This is an exceptionally rare format for a Chinese painted book. Please see the color scans posted to our website to understand the format. . This two-volume set is lovely. The covers were originally done in silk-brocade cafe ole color, some of which is partially rubbed. The corners are rounded as was typical of books of this period album. The paper is hand-made from mulberry fibers. . *** SEALS: The work has two cinnabar seals: the first is the artist's name: QI Change. The second reads "Shuhua [painting or calligraphy book], see scans posted to our website. . *** The drawings are done in a typical combination of vegetal pastel color and Mozhi Chinese black ink: Mo shui" or Sumi in Japanese. The drawings show bamboo, pine, small birds, cherry blossoms and other flowers. The work is delicately and beautifully executed with skilled Maobi [brush] work. . * THE ARTIST: QI CHANGE [1773-1828]: He was a Qing Dynasty painter and Shanghai artist from the "Songjiang" district. His work is subtle, relaxed and reflects the kinds of birds and flowers found in that area. He was famous and friends with and respected by place celebrities, such as Wang Qisun, Li Ting & Li Junjia. QI was most likely an ethnic Hui. . See below reference for full details of his genre. . * REFERENCE: The artist is cited in BAIDU: http://baike.baidu.com/view/228087.htm * .