The furnished interiors of a Chinese House – a set of eight

This very fine set of interiors is painted on silk, within a painted border, sharing the style and format of the previous two lots, and undoubtedly from the same studio. These exquisite interiors and views looking out of pavilions set among water gardens may describe the grand residences of the Hong merchants, such as the fabulously wealthy Howqua, or Mowqua and Consequa, all of whom are known to have entertained Western merchants 'at home' across the river at Honam, and given them glimpses of Chinese domestic life that they could not see in their confined quarters outside the city walls on the opposite waterfront. The drawings provide a valuable and minutely detailed record of provincial Chinese architecture, furniture, decorative arts, interior (and garden) design at the end of the 18th century, and are expressions of the sensibility and sophistication that beguiled the European audience in the late 18th century, just as George Henry Mason expressed in 1800: 'From the attentive hospitality of some of the gentlemen then residing at the British factory, the Editor received, during a stay of several months, important information. Under the auspices of those gentlemen he partook of several entertainments given by the Hong merchants at their own houses; from which advantages, with the aid of some donations, unwearied diligence, and frequent exertions of patience, he obtained no very inconsiderable knowledge of the Chinese customs. The Chinese, collectively, appear to be ingenious in their peaceful arts; polished and courteous in their manners; moral and sagacious in their civil institutes ...' (G.H. Mason, Costume of China, Preface, London, 1800).