Chinese Arms and Armour album

1820

A series of twenty large watercolours of Chinese military uniforms, banners and regalia

Art & Architecture

Publication date: c1820
Physical description: Folio, twenty watercolours on pith paper (410 by 320mm).
Inventory reference: 14153

Notes

A fine set of unusual paintings portraying a selection of eighteenth century military paraphernalia and equipment. These include swords, pole arms, flails, bows, arrows, a cannon, firearms, quivers, a powderhorn, ramrods, barrels of shot and gunpowder, brightly coloured standards, a drum, a screen, uniforms, helmets and hats including a regional commander’s helmet (zongbing kui). The tiger is used as auspicious imagery in the equipment of the day.